What Scifi/Fantasy book Are You Just Reading? [Archive]

Falagar

12-24-2004, 07:43 PM

I look forward to hearing about it Beard.

Falagar how many times have you read it? I've read it twice but I'm going to start trying to read it once every year.
LotR? Well, I think this is my 8th read (my father read it to me when I was around 7, don't know if that counts. ;)). Not quite sure though. I've also been planning to read it at least once every year, but not sure if I'll manage it.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I'm sure many of you have read it. I just started it but I am almost done... Quite a hilarious book. I recomend it.
A brilliant book, read The Complete Hitchhiker's Guide twice. :) (And just got the BBC-audiobook for Christmas, which also contains an interview with Douglas Adams!)

Pytt

12-24-2004, 08:34 PM

lucky you Fal. I have read Hithchikers twice, but just in norwegian, and that is not as good hav I heard. but I will read them on english when I'm finished with Wheel of time. think so..

robertwchandler

12-27-2004, 04:14 PM

I've never picked up Hitchiker's guide myself but I saw the BBC series a long time ago and it was hilarious.

BeardofPants

12-30-2004, 02:42 AM

I look forward to hearing about it Beard.

Well, I raced through the book in 2 days, and I'm reading the next in the series now. This book is one of those definitive books that help define the genre. I absolutely adored it. It soars with the heavyweights (asimov, herbert, reynolds, etc). Amazing. I will now bully everyone into reading it ala Dune. :p

... Have you read Dune yet? ;)

Lenya

01-19-2005, 03:22 PM

I've never picked up Hitchiker's guide myself but I saw the BBC series a long time ago and it was hilarious.

Then you simply must read it! If you don't want to read the whole series, just read the first book - it's the best by far.

Carafin

01-30-2005, 05:58 PM

I just finished "The Kraken Wakes" by John Wyndham. I really enjoyed it, It's a lot like The Day of the Triffids (also by John Wyndham). I'd recommend both of them.

Embladyne

01-31-2005, 01:35 AM

BeardofPants

01-31-2005, 02:33 AM

I just finished reading PK Dick's "Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said", and now I'm reading Alfred Bester's "The Stars, My Destination"....

[/deja vu...]

<edity edit> I LOVED American Gods!!! Neil Gaiman rocks!!!

ItalianLegolas

01-31-2005, 09:53 PM

I finally finished the book "American Gods" by Neil gaiman. I've been reading it off and on, when I have the time...for a couple months, a long time to be in the middle of a book (for me.) I really enjoyed it, and was pretty satisfied with the ending. It's a very strange journey, but I can piture it looking similarly to the world of Sandman, or Punch and Judy...two great graphic novels written by Neil. I guess I'm just a sucker for grotesque and surreal stories.

Did you read Sandman?? Those books are awesome, I just finished 'The Kindly Ones', judging by the ending I'm assuming Death took Dream with her, and then Daniel turned into a Dream look-a-like with blond hair. So now Daniel is taking over the Dreaming I guess, presuming the Dreaming doesn't cease to exist

Bilbo

02-02-2005, 08:19 AM

I've just finished 'Hunt for Red October' by Tom Clancy, and I'm now in the middle of another of his books, Rainbow Six. Damn good game too.

inked

02-03-2005, 05:40 PM

WAR IN HEAVEN by Charles Williams...an interesting take on the Holy Grail.

Mark of Cenla

02-04-2005, 11:59 AM

I am on the second book of the Dragonlance series by Hickman and Weiss. Peace.

Jabberwock

02-15-2005, 03:21 PM

I was reading Erickson's Gardens of the Moon, but unlike RWChambers above, I thought it was horrible. After 200 pages it came across as so disjointed, so laking in focus, and just plain badly written that I had to stop reading it, and I think for good. I wanted to like it, but the plot, characters, etc, all lacked what I liked about epic fantasy. So, I dropped that and started reading China Mieville's Perdido Street Station, which is a much better read. The opening monologue itself was more satisfying than the 200 pages of GotM. Mieville's got a way with description that just draws you in. This book also reminds me a bit of Neil Gaiman.

Falagar

02-16-2005, 06:16 PM

Indeed, Gardens of the Moon is bad. The second book however, Deadhous Gates, is written 5 years later and IMO a lot better. A lot.

Carafin

02-22-2005, 01:36 AM

I just finished Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. It was an excellent book, and I cannot believe I didn't read it before....I'm now working on Speaker for the Dead which is a sequel to Ender's Game. I still can't believe I didn't pick up any Orson Scott Card before now. *sigh*

Falagar

02-22-2005, 09:20 AM

Ender's Game is very good! :) Didn't like Speaker as much, though I spent an entire sunday/monday night (01 - 07 in the morning) with school the next (same) day reading it.

Currently reading Hitchhiker's again, Snorre's Heimskringla, Sandman whenever I can get my hands on a new album and...well, lots of other stuff.

Pytt

02-22-2005, 12:40 PM

I'm also currently reading Hitchhiker's again, though first time on english. And I got Color of Magic, Terry Pratchet, and Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman, which I hope to read, some of at least, in the vacation.

EarthBound

02-25-2005, 08:00 AM

Well I'm reading LOTR for like the 50th time since the 70's...er....LATE 70's *cough* :rolleyes:

Carafin

03-01-2005, 07:18 PM

I finished Speaker for the Dead, and Mort(from the Discworld sequence), I have to admit, I think I liked Speaker better, though they are so different it is difficult to compare them. I won't be reading much in the near future :(, I have so many things popping up (e.g. tests and assignments) that I need to put all my time into studying now. *sigh* I don't know how the professors manage to coordinate everything happening at once...

Halbarad of the Dunedain

03-04-2005, 01:22 AM

I just finished Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno, I can't wait for the final film to come out so I can see how well this book ties in!

inked

03-04-2005, 10:27 AM

I am planning on THE GREATER TRUMPS by Charles Williams this weekend, if my call schedule allows! :)

Lenya

03-23-2005, 04:15 PM

Just finished Death Gate #2, Elven Star and it was stunning! I am loving the books :p

Earniel

03-26-2005, 04:31 PM

I'm halfway in Nemesis by Isaac Asimov. It has some very nice ideas.

Lenya

03-27-2005, 08:25 AM

I'm halfway in Nemesis by Isaac Asimov. It has some very nice ideas.

Have you read his I,Robot? I bought it but don't know if it will be cool.

Earniel

03-27-2005, 12:46 PM

No, if I'm thinking about the right books, my dad only has one or two of the series in our library. I'd have to get the missing volumes before I can read the series.

Gulio, Strength of Many

03-28-2005, 02:51 AM

Just finished Death Gate #2, Elven Star and it was stunning! I am loving the books :p

I LOVE DEATH GATE. ^^ I'm finishing up the Seventh Gate. I'm also beginning The Halfling's Gem, the final installment of the Icewind Dale trilogy.

Lenya

03-31-2005, 03:34 PM

That's so cool! I haven't heard of any one else that read it. Have you read any other of their series? I haven't, they don't look that good.

Draken

04-04-2005, 11:46 AM

Just finished 'The Algebraist' by Iain M Banks. Sort of mixed feelings - it was a real page turner by the end, but it took me quite a long time to get into it. Might have been my fault, there's always a lot going on in his sci-fi, both in terms of plot/sub-plots and ideas, I don't think I was concentrating enough to be honest.

Halbarad of the Dunedain

04-05-2005, 05:10 PM

Currently reading Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.... couldn't wait for the film, had to get the book. :D

Nurvingiel

04-05-2005, 05:14 PM

They made a novelization before the movie? Or... huh...? :confused:
(I mean... the Star Wars books came after the movies were made - at least with the original three.)

Halbarad of the Dunedain

04-05-2005, 05:16 PM

Nurvingiel

04-05-2005, 05:25 PM

With the final Star Wars I dont think they wanted to wait... perhaps George Lucas was afraid the interest would be gone and he wouldn't be able to make millions of more dollers off merchandise.

Damn you 90 second rule...!
Oh. And my interest in the third movie begins to dwindle already. The only thing that makes me want to watch it is curiosity to see if they can connect the two story arcs without violating their own canon. (I thought eps I and II weren't exactly Lucas's cinematic best...)

Speaking of Star Wars books, have you ever read Timothy Zahn? I really enjoyed one he wrote about Han Solo and Princess Leia being married with kids. :D The title escapes me though.

Grey_Wolf

04-06-2005, 02:37 AM

Oh. And my interest in the third movie begins to dwindle already. The only thing that makes me want to watch it is curiosity to see if they can connect the two story arcs without violating their own canon. (I thought eps I and II weren't exactly Lucas's cinematic best...)

Speaking of Star Wars books, have you ever read Timothy Zahn? I really enjoyed one he wrote about Han Solo and Princess Leia being married with kids. :D The title escapes me though.

ZAHN, TIMOTHY
T THRAWN TRILOGY-1: HEIR TO THE EMPIRE
T THRAWN TRILOGY-2: DARK FORCE RISING
T THRAWN TRILOGY-3: THE LAST COMMAND

are the ones you're talking about.:)

Lenya

04-08-2005, 12:36 PM

Oh. And my interest in the third movie begins to dwindle already. The only thing that makes me want to watch it is curiosity to see if they can connect the two story arcs without violating their own canon. (I thought eps I and II weren't exactly Lucas's cinematic best...)

Speaking of Star Wars books, have you ever read Timothy Zahn? I really enjoyed one he wrote about Han Solo and Princess Leia being married with kids. :D The title escapes me though.

I can't imagine Han coping with a wife & 2 kids to take care of :p

Halbarad of the Dunedain

04-15-2005, 02:07 AM

Mini Smuggler Jedi... kind of a philisophical contrdiction. I'm not a big fan of the post Star Wars EU.

Damn you 90 second rule...

Lenya

04-17-2005, 07:57 AM

I just finished a book about Ruth. I think its called Ruth, Unshaken but can't remember the auther's name. Very good though. Worth reading.

ItalianLegolas

04-18-2005, 06:23 PM

Mini Smuggler Jedi... kind of a philisophical contrdiction. I'm not a big fan of the post Star Wars EU.

Damn you 90 second rule...

theres too many SW books to keep track of...

inked

04-19-2005, 06:06 PM

MEMPHIS 7.9 by Sam Petty. A realization of the impact of the New Madrid fault earthquake zone and what will most like happen in the event of another set of quakes like those in 1811-1813! A hard science-fiction book that is quite enjoyable...and thought-provoking for someone living 20 miles from New Madrid, on the fault!

But, hey, Rian, I have never felt a temblor yet? How about you?

edit: duplicate of post in the non-SF thread ... "double your pleasure, double your fun, with double-post, double-post, double-post (by) gum!" :p

Rían

05-09-2005, 04:06 PM

ZAHN, TIMOTHY
T THRAWN TRILOGY-1: HEIR TO THE EMPIRE
T THRAWN TRILOGY-2: DARK FORCE RISING
T THRAWN TRILOGY-3: THE LAST COMMAND

are the ones you're talking about.:)

How about:
1a - Heir to the Diaper
2a - Rice Cereal Rising
3a - The Last Babysitter

(the books about "Han Solo and Princess Leia being married with kids. " ) ;)

Rakkety_tamm

05-09-2005, 06:17 PM

Triss: A novel of Redwall

Linaewen

05-19-2005, 08:59 AM

Just finished 'The Keeping Place', fourth book of the Obernewtyn Chronicles.

Halbarad of the Dunedain

05-19-2005, 05:07 PM

I'm not sure if this counts as Sci-Fi but I am currently ready a most difficult book, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. The incredible, yet horrible, slang used in this book maks it for quite a strange and almost difficult read!

TheCheat

05-31-2005, 04:23 PM

I finished The First King of Shanara by Terry Brooks, and now am trying to finish The Sword of Shanara.. but it's just so long, and I'm not much of a reader. It took my like 2 years to read The Hobbit and I didn't even finish it!

Falagar

05-31-2005, 05:30 PM

Currently reading First King of Shannara myself, can't say I think very highly of it.

TheCheat

06-01-2005, 05:07 PM

Meh, I thought it was all right. It gets better at the end, so does The Sword, the beginning.. well was actually ok, but the middle is kind of tedious. *Bit o' a spoiler here 'case anyone is/will read it-->* I don't know why but when Jerle was going to kill Brona in The First King and like everyone lets him through I had that "One way or another I'm gonna getcha" song in my head lol!!

Este of Lorien

06-03-2005, 07:18 PM

Just finished Amber. Any idea what should I read next (between Shannara and Dark Elf)?

EarthBound

06-08-2005, 03:17 PM

Forgive the random posts but I had to say, I'm moving next month to an area that has....*holds breath in anticpation*.....an actual used book store! Evidently, reading is a 'hobby' done by the obscure here in this remote part of the US......sounds like both a vent and a happy thread item, eh?

Lenya

06-13-2005, 12:13 PM

Lovely! I love second hand book shops - I collect books, and I have a soft spot for extremely old books. Our library and the university has books written in 1890!

I'm finally continuing with Death Gate cycle by Weis and Hickman. It is stunnig. The characters are so amaizingly real and the worlds are so different from any other places I've read about. Its really worth reading.

EarthBound

06-13-2005, 01:30 PM

Since this book is always been kinda "out there" I'll discuss it here in Sci-fi/fantasy...

I just read (again) "Illusions" by Richard Bach (wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull)

Great fun, read it in an hour or two by the lake Saturday. Wonderful to try and put your mind around. ;)

BelegS

06-21-2005, 02:05 PM

Needle - Hal Clement

Nurancaiel

07-06-2005, 11:46 AM

hey i havent been on in a hella long time i need to update a few things but yeah... currently im reading Nora Roberts work...hers are more romance than fantasy but the ones im reading are fantasy in a reality world...but yeah if you dont want to read steamy scenes, STAY AWAY thats gotta be a speciality...

nurancaiel

Lenya

07-09-2005, 07:00 AM

Chronicles of Narnia, book III. Its a lovely story. The way its written kind of reminds me of the Hobbit, same style.

Falagar

07-14-2005, 05:05 PM

Douglas Adams with The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, second (and last finished) book in the Dirk Gently-series.

And BoP, if you're still listening: I just finished Dune Messiah. And liked it.

Lenya

07-17-2005, 08:14 AM

Douglas Adams with The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, second (and last finished) book in the Dirk Gently-series.

And BoP, if you're still listening: I just finished Dune Messiah. And liked it.

Was Dune Messiah as good as the first book?

Falagar

07-18-2005, 07:08 PM

I thought it was a bit better, though can't remember a lot of the first (been a while since I read it ;)). The first part of the book is mostly talk; but luckily intelligent talk. And when the action kicks in...Also, it was a lot shorter.

Lenya

08-08-2005, 08:43 AM

Oh, ok. My friend liked the first one better. I haven't read it myself, it is still on my to-read-list :rolleyes: I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I like long books though.

tomstheman

08-13-2005, 12:01 AM

I am currently rereading the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix. I highly recomend the series. Its about magic and people who go around and control the dead with bells and music and stuff. Well written and definitley a good read. Another series worth reading if you have the time is the Necroscope Series which deals with a man who can talk to the dead and uses this power to save the world from Vampires. Written by Brian Lumley it is actually a lot better and much less cheesy than it sounds.

Nurvingiel

08-16-2005, 05:08 AM

These books all sound interesting. I love Fantasy and Sci-Fi. :)

I read "Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood. It's a bit dark, but extremely well-written. Atwood writes flashbacks unbelievalby well. They're so seamless, that this book actually has two slowly intertwining plots that meet at the end in a completely fascinating way. I recommend this if you don't mind some heavy reading.

This is one of my all-time favourite books now, and that's saying something. :)

hectorberlioz

08-16-2005, 05:56 PM

Oh. And my interest in the third movie begins to dwindle already. The only thing that makes me want to watch it is curiosity to see if they can connect the two story arcs without violating their own canon. (I thought eps I and II weren't exactly Lucas's cinematic best...)

Speaking of Star Wars books, have you ever read Timothy Zahn? I really enjoyed one he wrote about Han Solo and Princess Leia being married with kids. :D The title escapes me though.

That would be the 'Heir to the Empire' Trilogy. Very good stuff.

cee2lee2

08-16-2005, 11:21 PM

I'm reading The OtherWorld by Mercedes Lackey with Mark Shepherd and Holly Lisle. It's a combined volume containing Wheels of Fire and When the Bough Breaks. Her take on the world of elves and their interactions with current day humans is both interesting and humorous.

(edit for misspelling of author's name)

cee2lee2

08-16-2005, 11:29 PM

Ender's Game is very good! :) Didn't like Speaker as much, though I spent an entire sunday/monday night (01 - 07 in the morning) with school the next (same) day reading it.......

Felt the same way. Was enthralled with Ender's Game and I still reread it every few years. But didn't care as much for the sequels.

Lenya

10-22-2005, 12:42 PM

Good news, for me. I just found Dune Messiah in a second hand book shop! Yeah. Now I have all 3.

** its a thing with me - can't read a book unless it's yours :) **

Jabberwock

01-06-2006, 12:12 PM

I'm reading Dragonfly by Frederic Durbin. It's not bad. Reminds me of Tim Burton movies.

Anglorfin

01-09-2006, 06:22 PM

Over the summer I read the Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman and loved it. It's now one of my favorite pieces of fantasy.

Now I'm reading the Dune series for the first time. Like it sofar.

Grey_Wolf

01-11-2006, 08:24 AM

At the moment I'm having a Harry Turtledove's World War-marathon. :)

b.banner

01-02-2007, 04:57 PM

right now i am reading a book called The Stone and thew Flute by Hans Behman a german guy the book was orignally released only in germany but it was translated into english and released here. really good book so far :D

Acalewia

01-02-2007, 08:16 PM

Yesterday I stared Eragon and so far I'm a little over halfway done. Very impressive, imo. I'll have to check out Eldest when I'm done.

Lief Erikson

01-02-2007, 08:38 PM

That would be the 'Heir to the Empire' Trilogy. Very good stuff.
Timothy Zahn is really an incredibly good author. I love his Star Wars books.

BeardofPants

01-03-2007, 03:07 PM

Indeed, Gardens of the Moon is bad. The second book however, Deadhous Gates, is written 5 years later and IMO a lot better. A lot.
Is it worth struggling through or should I just give up and start on the 2nd book?

Falagar

01-04-2007, 12:23 PM

Hm, depends a bit. It's still gritty and 'depressive' (even more so than Martin, though I think Bakker might beat him), Erikson isn't very good at character-building and his prose is a hit-and-miss experience. The story in itself, however, is great - at least "the Chain of dogs"-plotline, which is probably one of the most moving stories ever. It's also much easier to understand what's going on, the story is better organized and the prose is a bit better.

Erikson improves with each book (with the possible exception of House of Chains), IMO, though I haven't read his last one yet. He's the kind of author that either leaves you cold and unengaged, or sucks you in (though patience may be required).

Been a while since I read it though, think I'll have to refresh my memory soon. In conclusion, I think you should give it a go. If you still don't like it after the chain of dogs I don't think anything'll convince you. ;)

Ireth

01-04-2007, 02:37 PM

I'm currently reading book 4 of G.R.R.Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series.

Curubethion

01-04-2007, 08:52 PM

What a coincidence, I've just started A Clash of Kings...

Kethavel

03-10-2007, 03:04 PM

I am reading The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. I just finished the prequel The First King of Shannara. I am completely addicted to this series, and am excited that I have just discovered them. In fact, I think I have spent enough time online today! Time to go read!!!

D.Sullivan

04-08-2007, 01:46 PM

Felt the same way. Was enthralled with Ender's Game and I still reread it every few years. But didn't care as much for the sequels.

Same with me. I must have read it some four times now.

I just recently finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel , which I enjoyed. Anyone else read it? It's very different. I can see why a lot of people mention Austin when speaking of it. And I say that as a good thing. ;)

b.banner

04-09-2007, 06:15 PM

i just finished reading Elizabeth Haydons Symphony Of Ages i am now reading Take A Thief by Mercedes Lackey

katya

06-26-2007, 01:44 PM

I'm almost done with Wizard's First Rule of the Sword of Truth series. A handwritten sign in the bookstore said I was srsly a noob if I hadn't read it yet, so I did... And now that I've gotten started on the fantasy novels I won't be emerging from my bedroom anytime soon ;)

Ireth

07-17-2007, 07:58 AM

katya

08-07-2007, 11:07 PM

A month eh? Goodness! How many books are there again? I'm gonna get right back into it as soon as I finish these blasted Harry Potters (I started on them the week before the last one came out- almost done with 5 now). I've heard the second Sword of Truth was lame but then it got better. I guess I won't know until i read it!

bropous

09-02-2007, 08:26 PM

Galen13

10-03-2007, 09:17 PM

just read Avalon by Stephen Lawhead. a read it again. Enjoyed as much as the first time

Mari

11-08-2007, 07:38 AM

Finished Anita Blake- Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton.
I like the book, but it's getting a bit confusing with new powers and players appearing while I was still digesting the previous new powers and players.
Also, my favorite character didn't make an appearance. In fact, his name was only mentioned 4 times...
Still, I liked the book.

Gwaimir Windgem

11-08-2007, 03:28 PM

Gene Wolfe - Book of the Long Sun. Read his Book of the New Sun and Castleview in the last year.

brownjenkins

11-09-2007, 10:43 AM

I'm revisiting Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar series. Good stuff! :D

cee2lee2

12-06-2007, 01:19 AM

I'm reading Magyk by Angela Sage. It's the first book in the Septimus Heap series.

Prince Myshkin

12-14-2007, 12:33 PM

Right now I'm reading an enthralling non fiction, but that's not what i want to talk about.

Has anyone read Lian Hearn's tales of the Otori (Across the Nightingale floor, Grass for his Pillow, Brilliance of the Moon)?

Or Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber?
(Starting with Nine Princes in Amber)

Both are so amazing. some of my favorites, and I've read a lot :D

BeardofPants

12-14-2007, 01:56 PM

I've read Roger Zelazny's chronicles of amber series. They're very good. :)

I'm reading Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series. I'm enjoying it, but it's not as good as the Old Kingdom trilogy.

brownjenkins

12-14-2007, 03:29 PM

Or Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber?
(Starting with Nine Princes in Amber)

One of my favorites!

Two other good books by him, if you can find them:

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Light-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0060567236/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197660422&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Shadows-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0451159764/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197660457&sr=1-1

Prince Myshkin

12-14-2007, 05:30 PM

One of my favorites!

Two other good books by him, if you can find them:

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Light-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0060567236/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197660422&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Shadows-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0451159764/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197660457&sr=1-1
Thanks a lot! I'd been hoping that other stuff was out there but had yet had time to look!

GrayMouser

12-18-2007, 05:08 AM

I'm revisiting Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar series. Good stuff! :D

Of course!:D

Nurvingiel

12-27-2007, 04:27 AM

Have any of you read Edgar Rice Burroughs? He's most famous for Tarzan, but I find his Mars (Barsoom) series to be extremely entertaining. :D There are 11 books in all.

Interestingly, there is a cratar on Mars named after him (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burroughs_crater).

The Sasquatch of Fangorn

12-27-2007, 12:56 PM

i just finished reading the silmarilion...AGAIN!!!

GrayMouser

12-30-2007, 12:08 AM

Just finished Michael Moorcock's old book, "The Ice Schooner". Fairly depressing, even the end, but still a good read.

Not sure what to pick up next, must be getting jaded with the ages, fading like the elves with the passing of the years...

Right, Moorcock's nod to Herman Melville, read that many years ago- the main thing I remember is the brooding old-style harpooner and his reaction to "global warming" ;)

GrayMouser

12-30-2007, 12:12 AM

GrayMouser

12-30-2007, 12:36 AM

Having just seen the movie last night, was prompted to re-read "I am Legend"
by Richard Matheson

Still great after all these years- cited by Stephen King, Dean Koontz,and George Romero as their major inspiration. The original source for all the "sitting around the besieged house waiting for dark and the nightly attack of the blood-crazed vampires/zombies/mutants" stories.

Was surprised to discover some of the other things he's done- "The Incredible Shrinking Man", one of the best SF films ever, as well as "What Dreams May Come" (though, typically, he insisted they take his name off) and "Somewhere in Time".

Also wrote the "Gremlin on a Plane" episode of the Twilight Zone, as well as many other Zone/Outer Limits stories. Also wrote "Duel" which marked the debut of a director named Spielberg.

And his comments on the films:
RM: I don't know why Hollywood keeps coming back to the book just to not do it the way I wrote it. The book should have been filmed as is at the time it came out. It's too late now.
.......
AL Archive: It has been nearly 50 years since you wrote I Am Legend, please give us a summation of your feelings on the novel and Hollywood's continued fascination with it.

RM: I don't know why Hollywood is fascinated by my book when they never care to film it as I wrote it. The book is dated, the idea is dated. It should have been made as is when the book was published. Now it's too late. Whatever they do with it will have a patina of antiquity about it.

Nerdanel

01-13-2008, 12:34 PM

Finally I'm reading Dune. Only on the first one yet, but my.. Great stuff. :)

And it's a great to have a friend whose second language is Arabic while reading the series, because already now I've come upon words and phrases that clearly are from Arabic.

Too bad one has to do other things than read. :D

BeardofPants

01-14-2008, 04:19 AM

About farkin' time. Man, I gotta post here more, so I can nag more people to read Dune.

Jonathan

01-15-2008, 06:14 PM

I've been thinking about giving Dune a shot for a long time now. Other books have gotten in between though.

brownjenkins

01-15-2008, 07:27 PM

One of the best series ever written. Just be sure you have time to enjoy it, because it isn't a quick read.

BeardofPants

01-16-2008, 05:37 AM

I've been thinking about giving Dune a shot for a long time now. Other books have gotten in between though.

READ IT!!!

There's no excuse, mister. You can't finish medical school, and consider yerself a doctor, unless you read at least the first book. Siriously. F'r reals.

Jonathan

01-16-2008, 10:02 AM

I read the Silmarillion before I let myself get engrossed in the LotR trilogy.

Do you think it's a good or bad idea to have a look at the Prelude do Dune before actually taking on the orginial Dune books?

BeardofPants

01-16-2008, 01:37 PM

Bad, BAD BAAAAD idea. Bad, I say. Nope. Don't do it.

Nerdanel

01-16-2008, 02:37 PM

Hehe.. I'm guessing you don't recommend them at all? I've heard lots of disappointed sighs by friends that have tried to read them..

Nautipus

01-16-2008, 02:39 PM

My best friend read them and loves them. He keeps trying to get me to read them, maybe I will.;)

BeardofPants

01-17-2008, 01:30 AM

Maybe? There's no maybe about it, sirrah, you WILL read them or else yer family jewels get it. :mad:

Seriously, dude, what are you waiting for??

Snowdog

01-17-2008, 11:37 PM

Do you think it's a good or bad idea to have a look at the Prelude do Dune before actually taking on the orginial Dune books?
At least read Dune, Dune Messiah, & The Children of Dune before reading anything of Brian Herbert's. Hopefully you will read also God Emperor of Dune & Heretics of Dune beforehand as well.

BeardofPants

01-18-2008, 12:41 AM

... & chapterhouse.

brownjenkins

01-18-2008, 12:07 PM

God Emperor is the best!

Snowdog

02-25-2008, 09:15 PM

I've been reading Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora as time permits. So far its pretty interesting!

GrayMouser

03-01-2008, 11:33 PM

Read Dune.

Then stop.

cee2lee2

03-02-2008, 12:55 AM

Read Dune.

Then stop.

I agree. Though I've read more than the first three, I wouldn't recommend going beyond them. And if you can manage to stop with the first, better yet.

BeardofPants

03-02-2008, 01:55 AM

Heathens. :mad: ;)

Seriously though, it's a matter of taste. I think the series just gets better & better. Bit of a mindf*** though. But well worth it. My absolute favourites are Chapterhouse & Heretics (4 & 5 in the dune series).

BEST BOOKS EVAR111.

Rían

03-04-2008, 11:08 PM

Read Dune.

Then stop.That's what I did.

I got grossed out by all that recycled water stuff, though *bleah*

cee2lee2

03-22-2008, 10:48 AM

Finished Flyte and Physik; both by Angie Sage and in the Septimus Heap series. Really liked these books, but then I really like children's fantasy. I bought Magyk (the first book) and as soon as I had finished, went and bought the other two. Had to see what was going to happen next. :)

The Dread Pirate Roberts

03-25-2008, 08:50 AM

Just finished Gaiman's Neverwhere again. I'm reading Prince Caspian with my kid right now in anticipation of the movie.

Curufin

03-26-2008, 07:13 PM

Just finished 'Good Omens' by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett. Hillarious stuff!

BeardofPants

03-27-2008, 01:16 AM

I was a bit disappointed by Good Omens. I like both authors, guess I just expected... more.

Curufin

03-27-2008, 03:01 AM

I'd never read anything by either of them before, but I found it amusing enough! I guess I'm fairly easily pleased by fiction, though. :)

BeardofPants

03-27-2008, 05:20 AM

Well, hope it inspired you to read more by both respective authors. :D

Curufin

03-27-2008, 05:22 AM

Well, a friend bought me 'Guards, Guards' for Christmas, so I think I'm going to take that on my trip to Belgium on Saturday. Hopefully it'll be good!

BeardofPants

03-27-2008, 05:40 AM

The Nightwatch books are some of the best in the series. Enjoy. :)

Earniel

03-27-2008, 05:49 AM

I was a bit disappointed by Good Omens. I like both authors, guess I just expected... more.
I liked Good Omens, but I was a bit disappointed afterwards when I picked up one or two books from Gaiman, I kept expecting them to be more like Pratchett's style.

Well, a friend bought me 'Guards, Guards' for Christmas, so I think I'm going to take that on my trip to Belgium on Saturday. Hopefully it'll be good!
Trip to Belgium? Where will you be staying, Brussels I imagine? And Guards, Guards was pretty good, although it isn't one of my favourites.

Curufin

03-27-2008, 09:02 AM

Actually I'll be staying at the Irish College in Louvain - it's a trip with my University.

We'll be going to Brussels, though, to visit the EU parliament and all.

It's a country I've never been to before, so I'm looking forward to the trip.

BeardofPants

03-27-2008, 03:30 PM

I liked Good Omens, but I was a bit disappointed afterwards when I picked up one or two books from Gaiman, I kept expecting them to be more like Pratchett's style.

That's a shame - Gaiman has done some great stuff in the realm of urban fantasy, but I guess you have to be in the right head-space to enjoy it.

Curufin

03-28-2008, 03:48 AM

Well, I read the first twenty pages of 'Guards, Guards' before I went to sleep last night. :) Enjoyed it! Seems like good stuff. I'm going to the store today to buy another book to take on my trip, and I'd like it to be another Prachett one - any suggestions?

Earniel

03-28-2008, 05:14 AM

That's a shame - Gaiman has done some great stuff in the realm of urban fantasy, but I guess you have to be in the right head-space to enjoy it.
I know. Most of the time I'm finding his books a bit dark for my taste, but somehow that hasn't quite stopped me yet from buying them.

Well, I read the first twenty pages of 'Guards, Guards' before I went to sleep last night. :) Enjoyed it! Seems like good stuff. I'm going to the store today to buy another book to take on my trip, and I'd like it to be another Prachett one - any suggestions?
I find anything by Pratchett pretty good. :D But Reaper Man and Small Gods are among my favourites.

Curufin

03-28-2008, 05:29 AM

I quite like what I've read of him too. ;) He's not that big in the States, but all my British and Irish friends have pushed me into reading his stuff. ;)

I'll look for 'Reaper Man', as I've got 'Small Gods' on my bookshelf back in the States. :)

EDIT: Well, I ended up getting 'Fifth Elephant' because it was significantly longer than 'Reaper Man' which, when I'm travelling and sitting on airplanes and busses, is a big thing in its favor. I was rather shocked by how many books he's actually written, though!

BeardofPants

03-28-2008, 03:41 PM

If you want to do a Gaiman as well, I recommend Neverwhere. :)

Neverwhere's protagonist, Richard Mayhew, learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished. He ceases to exist in the ordinary world of London Above, and joins a quest through the dark and dangerous London Below, a shadow city of lost and forgotten people, places, and times. His companions are Door, who is trying to find out who hired the assassins who murdered her family and why; the Marquis of Carabas, a trickster who trades services for very big favors; and Hunter, a mysterious lady who guards bodies and hunts only the biggest game. London Below is a wonderfully realized shadow world, and the story plunges through it like an express passing local stations, with plenty of action and a satisfying conclusion. The story is reminiscent of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but Neil Gaiman's humor is much darker and his images sometimes truly horrific. Puns and allusions to everything from Paradise Lost to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz abound, but you can enjoy the book without getting all of them. Gaiman is definitely not just for graphic-novel fans anymore. --Nona Vero --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Amazon linky (http://www.amazon.com/Neverwhere-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0380789019)

Curufin

03-28-2008, 03:51 PM

Sounds interesting! Maybe I'll have to give that a shot as well. :)

ecthelion

04-03-2008, 08:40 AM

I'm reading the "retrieval artist" series, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and loving it. I've read 1 book and I'm in the middle of the 2nd.

It is set in a future a few thousands of years from now, when earth is the center of a multi-species alliance, with hundreds of alien members. Humankind is spread over all the solar system and other systems as well.
The main problem is that "social differences" are at such a level that people commit terrible "crimes" on alien soil, sometimes without knowing it, sometimes even causing genocide by accident. In these cases these people disappear (change identity and life to escape prosecution), with the silent approval of the earth authorities.
Sometimes these people need to be found, by their family for example, without making them vulnerable to those who want to prosecute them. In these cases a retrieval artist is hired, and one of these retrieval artists is the main character around which revolves the series.

The plot in the books is essentially a detective story, but set in a very good sci-fi environment.

cee2lee2

04-03-2008, 08:06 PM

I'm reading the "retrieval artist" series, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and loving it....Sometimes these people need to be found, by their family for example, without making them vulnerable to those who want to prosecute them. In these cases a retrieval artist is hired, and one of these retrieval artists is the main character around which revolves the series.

The plot in the books is essentially a detective story, but set in a very good sci-fi environment.

This sounds like an interesting series. Are they recent books? (Is my small town library likely to have them?;) )

Nautipus

04-03-2008, 08:07 PM

Does H.P. Lovecraft's stuff count as Sci-Fi? It should a little, in its own way.;)

If that is indeed the case, then I am re-reading "At the Mountains of Madness", one of my favorite little stories.

ecthelion

04-04-2008, 03:57 AM

This sounds like an interesting series. Are they recent books? (Is my small town library likely to have them?;) )

2002 and forward, according to quick research at amazon. some should be at the library, espescially since they received high ratings.

cee2lee2

04-04-2008, 10:22 PM

2002 and forward, according to quick research at amazon. some should be at the library, espescially since they received high ratings.

Thank you. I should have thought to check Amazon myself, but appreciate you checking.

Curufin

04-05-2008, 11:28 AM

I finished 'Guards,Guards' last night. I loved it! Are there more books with Carrot in them? I liked him, and it doesn't seem as if his story is done yet.

BeardofPants

04-05-2008, 02:36 PM

Yep. :D

First seen: Guards! Guards!
Also in:

Men at Arms
Feet of Clay
Jingo
The Fifth Elephant
The Truth
The Last Hero
Night Watch
Thud!

(from wiki)

Personally, I like wotshisface better... Vimes.

Curufin

04-05-2008, 03:26 PM

Yay! Glad to hear it! :D

I liked Vimes too, but I liked Carrot best. :)

BeardofPants

04-05-2008, 07:55 PM

But Vimes is so... droll. :D Glad you liked 'em. The Night Watch will always be my favourite part of the Disc World series (in fact I think Guards! Guards! was my first discworld novel). :)

You might also enjoy the wee free men cos it's got violent lil' blue buggers with red hair, who like to fight, drink and steal, not necessarily in that order. :D

The Dread Pirate Roberts

04-06-2008, 12:24 PM

Other than being blue, they sound a lot like my family's ancestors.

GrayMouser

04-07-2008, 04:59 AM

Halfway through Gaiman's "American Gods"- excellent!

Fairly dark, and definitely adult fare, but wonderful stuff.

BeardofPants

04-07-2008, 05:11 AM

Yay - Neil Gaiman rocks. :)

Curufin

04-09-2008, 04:27 PM

I'm wanting to start The Fifth Elephant, but not until I finish HoME X.

Aikanáro

04-12-2008, 02:33 PM

I've just finished Revelation by Carol Berg, and have started Foreigner by CJ Cherryh, both of which are excellent and tempt me to buy the sequels.

A couple of people have recommended Neil Gaiman to me, too, but I'm not sure if his writing is quite my type of thing - no harm in trying, though, I suppose!

Curufin

04-12-2008, 02:46 PM

The only thing by Neil Gaiman I've read is 'Good Omens', but perhaps after I finish everything I'm reading right now, I'll give him a shot.

Is Foreigner the first book of that series, Aiká? It's been so long since I've read Cherryh that I can't remember.

Aikanáro

04-12-2008, 02:50 PM

It is the first book - I'll admit the amount of alien (atevi) vocabulary used without explanation threw me a little at first, but I do like the idea (and it helped when I found the glossary in the back :D )

But there are 8 sequels, so I'll have a nice long reading list to look forward to!

Curufin

04-12-2008, 02:55 PM

If it's the first then I think I've read it...and several of the sequels. They were quite good.

Curufin

04-13-2008, 01:34 AM

I just finished 'The Fifth Elephant' - Liked it a lot better than 'Guards, Guards' (which was good, too). :D

*loves Carrot*

Mari

04-16-2008, 04:04 PM

Ｄｏｅｓ　ａｎｙｏｎｅ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｔｈｅ　Ｂｉｔｔｅｒｂｙｎｄｅ　ｔｒｉｌｏｇｙ　ｂｙ　Ｃｅｃｉｌｉａ　Ｄａｒｔ－Ｔｈｏｒｎｔｏｎ？　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｍａｎｙ　ｏｆ　ｙｏｕ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｉｔ．

Curufin

04-16-2008, 05:31 PM

Nope, not heard of it. :(

Just finished 'Going Postal' by Terry Pratchett. Quite good. Started 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel'

katya

04-19-2008, 02:04 PM

I'm not still reading it as I finished it yesterday, but Snakecharm, The Kiesha'ra volume two, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. It's young adult fiction- I read volume one (Hawksong) when I was a lot younger (but still kind of old for YA, admittedly). But, it's fun and I like it. The author was very young when she published these books- maybe 16 or so for Hawksong, and her first book when she was 13- so she's kind of an inspiration to me.

They're about shape-shifters mostly. Very fun. I can't put them down until I'm done.

I'm still reading Stone of Tears too, the second book of the Sword of Truth series. I like it a lot. It's so cheesy though...

Prince Myshkin

04-24-2008, 03:09 PM

I just finished reading Katherine Kurtz's Chronicles of King Kelson series... The original trilogy was sooooo much better. I think that she got slightly confused with the later writing she went into with the series.

Since I finished that and needed something lighter to balance me, I'm re-reading the Beowulf Shaeffer book Crashlander by Larry Niven. Really nice because it's short stories that continue, so it doesn't require a whole lot of continuous reading to get into it.

cee2lee2

04-25-2008, 08:28 PM

Finally finished Two Handed Engine, selected short stories of Kuttner and Moore. Collections like this always take me awhile to get through as I usually just read a story every day or two (bed time story :D) and this one had 37 of them. I very much recommend this book if you like classic science fiction.

GrayMouser

04-26-2008, 01:45 AM

Since I finished that and needed something lighter to balance me, I'm re-reading the Beowulf Shaeffer book Crashlander by Larry Niven. Really nice because it's short stories that continue, so it doesn't require a whole lot of continuous reading to get into it.

I find I actually prefer the earlier Known Space stuff -World of Ptavvs, Protector, and the short stories- to the RingWorld books, though they're great, too.

Prince Myshkin

04-26-2008, 10:52 PM

I find I actually prefer the earlier Known Space stuff -World of Ptavvs, Protector, and the short stories- to the RingWorld books, though they're great, too.

I'm not exactly sure because my exposure to Mr. Nivens work has been somewhat limited... I'm embarassed to admit that this is the extent of my reading of his. But as I understand it, this book has all of his short stories linked together with these linking material to make a continuous story... I always skip the bridging material because I find it rather tiresome and on the whole irrelevant.

This is the stuff with the Pupeteers and the like.

One of my favorite parts is when the Pupeteer tells Beowulf to run his tongue over the Kdatylano touch sculpture... It would be much more sensitive:D

Goldberry1

05-10-2008, 11:23 PM

I'm just about to start "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. LeGuin, having just read the Earthsea Trilogy during the winter. Hopefully I'll be getting a lot of reading in now that it's summer for me!

GrayMouser

05-15-2008, 11:47 AM

I'm just about to start "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. LeGuin, having just read the Earthsea Trilogy during the winter. Hopefully I'll be getting a lot of reading in now that it's summer for me!

One of my all time favourites, but be warned! It's heavily didactic, containing a lot of discussion about political philosophy and social organisation- sort of an "Atlas Shrugged" for left-wing anarchists, but half the length and done by someone who can actually write.

Empress_Flynn

09-13-2008, 01:20 PM

Just began "2001: A Space Odyssey"

Maybe now I'll finally get around to watching the movie too...

The Dread Pirate Roberts

10-24-2008, 10:05 AM

Just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

Wonderful.

Empress_Flynn

10-24-2008, 12:07 PM

Aww.... I love Neil... I'm going to have to get that someday... first I really need to concentrate my efforts on getting all of the Sandman graphic novels :)

The Dread Pirate Roberts

10-27-2008, 11:18 AM

I think the current spelling of those graphic novels is: $andman. ;)

Empress_Flynn

10-27-2008, 12:00 PM

Lol... expensive: yes. Worth it: completely ;)

klatukatt

10-29-2008, 11:23 PM

Cryptonomicon
Neil Stephenson makes me so happy. So does Chuck Palahniuk.

GrayMouser

10-12-2010, 04:48 AM

Finally got around to reading "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman. It's always on the lists of best SF novels, but I somehow had the feeling the that it was militarist SF, a la "Starship Troopers"- I love Heinlein, but was less impressed with his spawn, Jerry Pournelle etc.

Of course, it has a totally different take on the war issue- maybe coming from Haldeman being a Vietnam vet, and actually serving (and being severely wounded) in combat, which Heinlein, in spite of all his bluster, never did.

Anyway, fantastic book, deserving all the kudos, with both the military aspects and the scientific/social issues of the relativistic time-stretching being handled incredibly well.

Got it in a trilogy with "Forever Free" and "Forever Peace" which I'm moving on to now. Haldeman says that in the earlier issues he had to leave chunks out which the editor thought too depressing or too sexual; so he says this is the definitive edition.

Grey_Wolf

10-12-2010, 07:16 AM

I'm currently re-reading AA Attanasio's brilliant Arthor Series. I utterly love it - the excellent prose - the story - my favourite next to Lord of the Rings - I love the legend - the king who came to unite and make the land whole - one day to return.

EllethValatari

10-12-2010, 10:29 PM

:eek: There are fantasy novels besides Tolkien's? Do they even compare?!?!

I'm kidding-not that much of a fanatic! Well, maybe I am.

Not currently reading this, but one good Sci-fi novel I've read is John White's The Iron Sceptre. It's a sequel to another of White's books, The Tower of Geburah, and both are very good. The plot bears a slight semblance to Lewis's Chronicles- with children entering another world by strange means- but are not in any way allegorical.

Grey_Wolf

10-13-2010, 01:48 AM

These do compare - ever surpasses - Tolkien. :)

cee2lee2

10-13-2010, 07:49 PM

GrayMouser

10-17-2010, 07:34 PM

Just finished "Forever Free", the written-20-years-later sequel to "Forver War". It was alright as a story for the most part- definitely a step down from "War"- but the ending was one of those "we built up to a huge Cosmic Mystery, now here's the letdown" things.

A problem when stories get involved in the Vast Conspiracy Behind It All; the unveiling is often a disappointment- the "Riverworld" series was one of those.

On to "Forever Peace"

Voronwen

10-22-2010, 08:24 PM

I'm reading "Avalon - The Return of King Arthur" by Stephen Lawhead. My brother in law introduced me to this and now i can't put it down... Now i'll just have to find myself the whole series. I feel a new addiction coming on. :cool:

BeardofPants

10-23-2010, 01:47 AM

I just finished reading "The Hunger Games" trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It was very good, highly recommend. :)

If there really are only seven original plots in the world, it's odd that boy meets girl is always mentioned, and society goes bad and attacks the good guy never is. Yet we have Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, The House of the Scorpion—and now, following a long tradition of Brave New Worlds, The Hunger Games. Collins hasn't tied her future to a specific date, or weighted it down with too much finger wagging. Rather less 1984 and rather more Death Race 2000, hers is a gripping story set in a postapocalyptic world where a replacement for the United States demands a tribute from each of its territories: two children to be used as gladiators in a televised fight to the death. Katniss, from what was once Appalachia, offers to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, but after this ultimate sacrifice, she is entirely focused on survival at any cost. It is her teammate, Peeta, who recognizes the importance of holding on to one's humanity in such inhuman circumstances. It's a credit to Collins's skill at characterization that Katniss, like a new Theseus, is cold, calculating and still likable. She has the attributes to be a winner, where Peeta has the grace to be a good loser. It's no accident that these games are presented as pop culture. Every generation projects its fear: runaway science, communism, overpopulation, nuclear wars and, now, reality TV. The State of Panem—which needs to keep its tributaries subdued and its citizens complacent—may have created the Games, but mindless television is the real danger, the means by which society pacifies its citizens and punishes those who fail to conform. Will its connection to reality TV, ubiquitous today, date the book? It might, but for now, it makes this the right book at the right time. What happens if we choose entertainment over humanity? In Collins's world, we'll be obsessed with grooming, we'll talk funny, and all our sentences will end with the same rise as questions. When Katniss is sent to stylists to be made more telegenic before she competes, she stands naked in front of them, strangely unembarrassed. They're so unlike people that I'm no more self-conscious than if a trio of oddly colored birds were pecking around my feet, she thinks. In order not to hate these creatures who are sending her to her death, she imagines them as pets. It isn't just the contestants who risk the loss of their humanity. It is all who watch. Katniss struggles to win not only the Games but the inherent contest for audience approval. Because this is the first book in a series, not everything is resolved, and what is left unanswered is the central question. Has she sacrificed too much? We know what she has given up to survive, but not whether the price was too high. Readers will wait eagerly to learn more.

GrayMouser

10-24-2010, 05:57 AM

Sounds good- and at the risk of sounding classifactory- did I just make that up?- what age level is it aimed at?

The "standing naked" bit sounds more adult, in our New Puritan times, but this

In Collins's world, we'll be obsessed with grooming, we'll talk funny, and all our sentences will end with the same rise as questions.

sounds like it's the 'young adult ' category- I know, I know, I'm an old fogey.

BeardofPants

10-24-2010, 03:13 PM

I'd class it as young adult.

Mark of Cenla

06-04-2011, 05:50 PM

I am reading The Sword of Angels by John Marco, which is the third book in a triogy. The other two are The Eyes of God and The Devil's Amor. I really like them.

I have also been into Tad Williams lately.

Peace and goodwill.

Midge

06-09-2011, 05:15 PM

Back to good old Perelandra again. I love that book so very much.

GrayMouser

06-12-2011, 08:47 AM

Back to good old Perelandra again. I love that book so very much.

My least favorite of the Space Trilogy- though still good! Too much description and talking about theology- all well in its place, but a trifle didactic.

Two points-

The first- in A.N. Wilson's biography, there's a horrendous scene where Jane Moore's brother collapses on Lewis's floor, being driven insane (by syphillis IIRC- he died shortly after), where he describes what he is feeling in terms remarkably similar to Weston's - sinking down through the skin of life to Hell, begging for more life to postpone it- though Wilson doesn't make the connection.

The second- in "The Problem of Pain" Lewis attempts to justify natural evil by saying it is inherent in our world, using the example of banging into a corner of a table- tables must be hard, corners must be sharp, our bodies need warnings of damage- that led me to wonder if he created Perelandra precisely as a place where there were no hard edges- and no earthquakes, volcanoes, fires etc.

I can't remember- there certainly were natural evils in Malacandra; were there any in Perelandra?

GrayMouser

07-03-2011, 08:37 AM

Being largely cut off from science fiction ( small non-English-speaking town, even bookstores in big cities here are crap, shipping costs are horrendous) I was delighted when, asked to take over some classes for the summer, I found an entire shelf of SF. The guy I was substituting for explained they were left behind by some Americans who had been working here.

As it turned out, they were ex-US Air Force/Navy types working as contractors on radar installations at the local Air Force base.

Nice guys- I knew most of them- but unfortunately their taste ran to the "mil-sf" of Jerry Pournelle and his followers, so the blurbs were like

"While the ever-ravaging Grakshnickzzx hordes swallowed system after system, the spineless bureaucrats on Earth tried haplessly to appease them- it took Dreck Dranigan and his battle-hardened crew of space mercenaries to show the only way to negotiate with a Grak was with the business end of a blaster!!!"

Still, got some Larry Niven and Anne McCaffrey out of it, so it's better than nothing :)

Earniel

11-19-2011, 08:16 AM

Recently went on a small book-buying spree on the internet and bought a couple of books from the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. His death earlier this year reminded me that I had one of his books for years and had enjoyed it much but hadn't been able to find any other books of the series. Since then I discovered the internetbook market so I went for it.

I bought and read Martin the Warrior, Mossflower and Salamandastron. I'm loving them as much as I did the first book. I suspect that before the year is out, there will be even more Redwall finding a new home on my bookshelf. :heart:

GrayMouser

01-15-2012, 10:16 PM

I just finished reading "The Hunger Games" trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It was very good, highly recommend. :)

Just finished Book 1; very very good- have to run down to the library for the next two.

Also Pride and Prejudice and Zombies- not so good; the author doesn't really understand the Austen style and instead gives it a modern pop culture feeling.

EllethValatari

01-16-2012, 04:08 PM

Over this past weekend, I read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. So glad I got all three at once and could read through to the end. Once I started, I didn't want to stop.

Me too! Though I don't know if our weekends coincide :). There hasn't been a book since LotR that I literally couldn't set down-if you haven't read them, do before the movie premiere. They are no less than brilliant, and not at all fruity.

mithrand1r

01-17-2012, 10:42 AM

Hunger Games and Catching Fire were excellent.

Mockingjay was not too bad. The last third or so of the book felt rushed to me. I did not like the ending. I did not like what happened to some characters.
I also had some trouble imagining what was happening when they were traveling in the capital city.

A more detailed review by me was done at the parchment girl (http://parchmentgirl.com/book-reviews/mockingjay-suzanne-collins/#comment-7976)

Me too! Though I don't know if our weekends coincide :). There hasn't been a book since LotR that I literally couldn't set down-if you haven't read them, do before the movie premiere. They are no less than brilliant, and not at all fruity.

Acalewia

01-17-2012, 10:30 PM

I started The Hunger Games this week. It's hard to put down.

mithrand1r

02-14-2012, 12:38 PM

I started The Hunger Games this week. It's hard to put down.

I agree. It was a page turner for me. I finished the trilogy over a weekend.

GrayMouser

03-14-2012, 05:33 AM

Finally finished the last two- "Mockingjay" was a bit of a letdown- I agree with Mithrandir that the end was a bit rushed- one of the few series that could have benfited by a longer treatment.

Also, in the first half she seemed a bit whiney and self-centered, considering that there was a war on and what everyone else had been suffering.

Spoiler ( do we have a spoiler function?)

The malevolence of President Coin felt under-motivated. Sure, she wanted to keep power but it could have been developed more- "We suffered more than you guys all these years" or something like that; maybe "fighting the Capital turns you into the Capital".

Earniel

03-14-2012, 06:18 AM

Yes, we do have a spoiler code: ][/COLOR]secrit info

GrayMouser

03-15-2012, 05:56 AM

Yes, we do have a spoiler code: ][/COLOR]secrit info

Hmmm, let me run through that again....

Thanks muchly.

Varnafindë

03-15-2012, 04:01 PM

I'm reading "The Hunger Games" now - I'm about half way through the first one, and I like it so far. I need to go to the library to find the other two.

I'm also planning to see the movie when it comes out.

GrayMouser

03-18-2012, 09:06 PM

Interesting article about the marketing of "The Hunger Games" before it was even published, showing that 'marketing' is not necessarily a bad word.

http://www.salon.com/2012/03/18/the_making_of_a_blockbuster/

Varnafindë

03-19-2012, 07:03 PM

Empress_Flynn

04-10-2012, 12:17 PM

What worried me most about the movie, was that they might make it into a gore-fest and disregard the author's message. But now I've read that the author is heavily involved in the script-writing and even other parts of the production, so now my hopes are up for a good movie.

Yeah... in terms of the gore represented in the movie.. it was actually mild. (Though maybe I'm just desensitized to gore by now?) Anyway... I thought the amount of gore was appropriate. I had some other issues with the movie, but in general the message was intact!

Logkhya

06-25-2012, 04:09 AM

I want to read Dragonlance when I am free

Mark of Cenla

07-02-2012, 06:59 PM

I am reading the second book of the Stormlord trilogy by Glenda Larke. It is quite good. Check it out. Peace and goodwill.

Lalaith

02-24-2013, 12:01 PM

I'm reading The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling. The style is very different from LotR but I love it nonetheless, the characters and the story are very enthralling.

As a matter of fact I already read the complete series already but the books are very addictive, so I started with book 1 again right after finishing book 6.
I also want to read Flewelling's other series, the Tamir Triad but I can't seem to bring myself to say goodbye to the characters of the Nightrunner Series yet.

katya

03-20-2013, 08:34 AM

Lalaith

03-26-2013, 11:49 AM

I recently finished the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. OMG I loved it. It was, in my opinion, very intelligently written, cheesy plot-driven fantasy. Awesome characters, very believable with lots of strong women role models (strong in lots of ways, not just Eowyn-type strength).

That sounds really interessting! Having just finished two series of books (both playing in the same universere) where women rule the most important country, I think I have to continue reading books with good fimel role models!

katya

03-29-2013, 07:11 PM

Lalaith

05-12-2013, 02:57 PM

Pick up the first book, Way of Shadows, when you feel up to it. My bf pestered me into it, but I'm so glad he did. I picked up the first book and intended only to read the first page to see how it was, but I ended up reading the first few chapters before putting it down! It is about assassins but it gets more into magic as it goes on.

My reading list is still pretty long, but I might just see if I like those books as well. One can never read too much.

Currently I am reading "The Fall of Kings" by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman. I haven't read much until now, just started a few days ago after finishing "Swordspoint" and "The Privilege of the Sword", which both play in the same universe.