The Sword and Laser discussion

Finished listening to The Wretched of Muirwood that I did for SFFAudio (My Review).

I've moved on to second book in the trilogy The Blight of Muirwood.

Recently read Under Heaven so I could read GGKs newest River of Stars since it just came out. Both were good.

This week I'll read the four of his books I haven't gotten to yet.

Finally making my way through the humble ebook bundle selections. Just finished Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link (nice collection), currently working on Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow (so far, a pretty fun read), and I might dig into Zoo City by Lauren Beukes next. Scalzi's Old Man's War, was of course read for Sword and Laser. So far I've been pretty happy with the ebooks they chose.

I'm reading The Moon Pool by Abraham Merritt from the early 1900s. It has some of the pulp fiction problems, too many adjectives and adverbs for instance. But it is a very enjoyable read. I'm caught up in the mystery of the pool. I want to know more about the lost civilization. Will the mssing people be found alive?

At the half way point it seems to be mostly a lost civilization story like Doyle and Burroughs did. However, there is more to the story than that. I'm enjoying it better than The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or the Edgar Rice Burroughs Pellucidar stories. I'd highly reccommend it to aynone who found those enjoyable. It is available for free download from Project Gutenberg.

David wrote: "I'm reading The Moon Pool by Abraham Merritt from the early 1900s. It has some of the pulp fiction problems, too many adjectives and adverbs for instance. But it is a very enjoyable read. I'm caugh..."

Merritt wrote some great stuff! Not many books, and they were mostly that same kind of lost race stuff, but still highly readable. He did a direct sequel to Moon Pool: The Metal Monster.

Have you read any H. Rider Haggard? He was the guy who kind of invented that whole genre back in the 1880's with She and King Solomon's Mines, both of which still hold up remarkably well.

Joseph wrote: "David wrote: "I'm reading The Moon Pool by Abraham Merritt from the early 1900s. It has some of the pulp fiction problems, too many adjectives and adverbs for instance. But it is a very enjoyable..."

Yes, I find Haggard an excellent read. The World's Desire is prehaps my favorite, but almost everything is worth a read. His writing is cleaner than the American pulp style, make it seem less dated. (Once again, available on Project Gutenberg.)

Thanks for letting me know about The Metal Monster, I'll have to track it down. This is the first story I've read by Merritt and I'm finding it very compelling.

David wrote: "Thanks for letting me know about The Metal Monster, I'll have to track it down. This is the first story I've read by Merritt and I'm finding it very compelling."

The other Merritt I'd recommend, just because it isn't a straight lost-race adventure is The Ship of Ishtar -- almost more of a sword & sorcery feel to it.

Just finished Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, after snagging it for $1.00 at Dollar General. Not sure if that's a terrible or wonderful thing, but it was an enjoyable read at any rate.

Picking up Retribution Falls based on the recommendations here at my library tonight. Also planning on picking up The Legend of Eli Monpress and Sullivan's A Theft of Swords for my Kindle, based on how much I thoroughly enjoyed the samples. And I'm listening to Lindsay Buroker's Dark Currents on podiobook, since I enjoyed The Emperor's Edge.

Apparently, I really like the whole "outlaws with a heart of gold" thing...

George wrote: "I just finished A Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein for the first time. It was a great read! Any other suggestions from him?"

George wrote: "I just finished A Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein for the first time. It was a great read! Any other suggestions from him?"

You might also try some of his earlier YA books -- Red Planet, Citizen of the Galaxy and Space Cadet were always particular favorites of mine.

Kevin wrote: I just finished A Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein for the first time. It was a great read! Any other suggestions from him?

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of my favorites.

As for myself, the genre book I'm reading is last month's BotM, Downbelow Station (I'm a sluggish reader.) Audiobook: Jim Butcher's Fool Moon. I listen to that one in the car on the way to and from work.

I did it! Finally finished The Way of Kings. It was fantastic and I can't wait for book 2. Now to read Dragonflight.

I am currently halfway finished with 11/22/63 by Stephen King. The novel is shaping up to be one of Mr. King's finest works.

Terez wrote: "I am currently halfway finished with 11/22/63 by Stephen King. The novel is shaping up to be one of Mr. King's finest works."

I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as many of his other stuff. It was nothing like I expected (very little sci-fi/alternative history).

Finished Winter Witch and, being unwilling to leave Golarion quite yet, started Plague of Shadows by Howard Andrew Jones.

Joseph wrote: "Finished Winter Witch and, being unwilling to leave Golarion quite yet, started Plague of Shadows by Howard Andrew Jones."

Jones' series The Chronicles of Sword and Sand is fun sword and sorcery books (the second one is better).

Evgeny wrote: "Jones' series The Chronicles of Sword and Sand is fun sword and sorcery books (the second one is better)."

Yeah, I really liked those, and seeing Jones' name as one of the Pathfinder authors is what convinced me to give them [the Pathfinder tie-in novels] a try.

Terez wrote: "I am currently halfway finished with 11/22/63 by Stephen King. The novel is shaping up to be one of Mr. King's finest works."

I am not a Stephen King fan. I put him squarely in the entertainment category. However 11/22/63 is one of the best books I've read.

Joseph wrote: The other Merritt I'd recommend, just because it isn't a straight lost-race adventure is The Ship of Ishtar..."

Joseph, thanks for the recommendations. The Ship of Ishtar isn't in Project Gutenberg but it is in eBooks@Adelaide my other go-to site for ebooks. While PG only has two Merritt works eBooks@Adelaide has a nice collection.

Since I finished the Percy Jackson series, I've moved onto the sequel series "Heroes of Olympus". Currently plowing through the first book in that series. WIll read the Kane Chronicles(Also from the same author in the same universe) afterwards. Also gonna try and finish The First Law Trilogy.

Sandi wrote: "Terez wrote: "I am currently halfway finished with 11/22/63 by Stephen King. The novel is shaping up to be one of Mr. King's finest works."

I am not a Stephen King fan. I put him squarely in th..."


Not sure I understand what you mean by saying King is in the "entertainment category." Isn't book reading for pleasure a form of entertainment in itself? However I do agree 11/22/63 is shaping up to be a fine novel.

Rob wrote: "Terez wrote: "I am currently halfway finished with 11/22/63 by Stephen King. The novel is shaping up to be one of Mr. King's finest works."

I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as many of his ot..."

Most of King's recent works have not interested me. The last novel he wrote I enjoyed was The Green Mile - and that was first published many years ago.

Picked up Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice. Enjoying it so far.

I just finished Pirate Cinema and am about to start on The Girl Who Would Be King. I have no idea what the book is about or even where I heard about it but for some reason I bought it and it just downloaded to my kindle when turned on the wi-fi to download something else. May as well give it a go.

Terez wrote: "Most of King's recent works have not interested me. The last novel he wrote I enjoyed was The Green Mile - and that was first published many years ago. "

Most of what I've read by him is from the Dark Tower or related to it in some way.

Finished Plague of Shadows and started Carpathia by Matt Forbeck. The Titanic with 100% less Rose & Jack and 100% more vampires.

Just finished the Wool Omnibus.

Now reading The Red: First Light by Linda Nagata.

(And, BTW, Linda Nagata is apparently back to full-time writing now. Yeah! She has an interesting guest post on her writerly experience over on Charlie Stross's blog.
http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-...)

ive read and , im currently reading with a view to also read:

I just finished Telegraph Avenue. I thought it was quite good.

I am still working on The Club Dumas and am really enjoying it.

I just started A Shadow In Summer and so far, I really like it.

Was gonna do the Pern book for book of the month but I decided I'd put off the next Malazan book long enough am reading Memories of Ice. This is a good series but its a lot of work. Malazan books are not half brain books where you just sit back and enjoy, you have to actively pay full attention to every detail and keep track of a lot of things. Its the depth of the books that make them great but at the same time its sort of exhausting.

Rik wrote: "Was gonna do the Pern book for book of the month but I decided I'd put off the next Malazan book long enough am reading Memories of Ice. This is a good series but its a lot of work. Malazan boo..."

We are actually rereading Memories of Ice at the Malazan Fallen group if you are interested. http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/8...

David Sven wrote: "Rik wrote: "Was gonna do the Pern book for book of the month but I decided I'd put off the next Malazan book long enough am reading Memories of Ice. This is a good series but its a lot of work. ..."

Awesome. I know I missed things in Deadhouse Gates and I know I'll miss things in Memories of Ice. It'll be nice to have a place where others point out the connections I miss. I read Gardens of the Moon twice back to back and I was amazed the second time through how much I picked up on that I missed the first time. Great story but sooooooooo much detail.

I decided to re-start Gene Wolfe's The Shadow of the Torturer after reading a thread elsewhere in Sword and Laser. Maybe it's time to give it another chance. IIRC I made it partway through the second book before really bogging down.

Dharmakirti wrote: "I just finished Telegraph Avenue. I thought it was quite good.

I am still working on The Club Dumas and am really enjoying it.

I just started A Shadow In Summer and so far, I really like it."

We have similar tastes! I'd encourage you to read more Chabon, if you haven't already (The Yiddish Policemen's Union is really, really good, and should be discussed in the SF forums since it's alt history). The Club Dumas I also enjoyed, but I think this is one of the few instances where the movie surpassed the book.

Finished listening to The Blight of Muirwood (My Review) and I've already jumped right into the final book of the trilogy: The Scourge of Muirwood

D S wrote: "We have similar tastes! I'd encourage you to read more Chabon, if you haven't already (The Yiddish Policemen's Union is really, really good, and should be discussed in the SF forums since it's alt history). The Club Dumas I also enjoyed, but I think this is one of the few instances where the movie surpassed the book."

Regarding Michael Chabon, I've read The Yiddish Policemen's Union and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier Clay and loved them both. My next Chabon novel is going to be Wonder Boys but probably won't get to that until later this summer.


I saw the Ninth Gate years ago and while I don't remember too much about the film, I do remember not really liking it. I plan on revisiting the film after I finish the novel.

The Power of Myth and Myths to Live By by Joseph Campbell, Ghost Story by Peter Straub, Remix by Lawrence Lessig, and multiple others.

I just finished both 'For Your Eyes Only' and 'Seeds of Rebellion' today. I'm starting Foundation and Empire and Jane Eyre.

Finished the Audible version of Summer Knight
My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Starting the Audible version of The Lies of Locke Lamora

Finished Ender's Game.

Should be starting Hellhole Awakening next, I think.

Still in a funk with books. I gave up on The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements in audio, I'll read the print version (or e-print version). I also started and gave up on The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington.

I had stopped reading Dragonflight for a bit but am back onto it. I'm also listening to The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break. Once I'm done with Dragonflight I think I'll go back to The Mongoliad: Book One. I want to be reading that right now but don't want two fantasy books simultaneously.

terpkristin wrote: "Still in a funk with books."

I hate book funks. It sounds like you've been going outside of genre a bit, so maybe what you need is something short, light and funny. Have you listened to any of Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles? That's a series that is best in audio. Or, what about Molly Harper's Jane Jameson series? Both are really fun listens.

I just started my third re-read of Dune but this time with audible along with Kindle ebook. This is going to be an epic experience!

Sandi wrote: "I hate book funks. It sounds like you've been going outside of genre a bit, so maybe what you need is something short, light and funny. Have you listened to any of Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles? That's a series that is best in audio. Or, what about Molly Harper's Jane Jameson series? Both are really fun listens."

Haven't listened to either, I'll check 'em out, I have some Audible credits to burn! :) Thanks. :)

I have been slogging my way through Reamde, I am really liking it but holy crap it's long. Wish it were finished already so I can start telling people how good it is. Mostly people i don't mind not seeing again for a while.

Have finished my review be http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Am about 75% through

Finished Peter V Brett's second Demon Cycle book The Desert Spear
My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Next up it's back to Robin Hobb with Ship of Magic

At the moment I'm reading...the 3 books on my Currently Reading list.

Finished Carpathia, which I quite enjoyed, and am starting The Door to Saturn, more short stories by one of my favorite authors, Clark Ashton Smith.

I finished listening to The Scourge of Muirwood. You can read My Review if you're inclined.

I'm not completely sure what's next for audio, but I'm leaning towards Cryptonomicon since I have another road trip coming up in 2 weeks and it's over 40 hours so there is no way I'll finish it on that trip alone.