SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I'm about to go on vacation and I'm taking Linda Nagata's The Red with me on kindle and Jay Allan's Far Stars Book 1 with me plus some mystery stuff (latest from Michael Connelly and Peter Robinson).

I have Jemisin's The Fifth Season but it doesn't seem like a fun kinda vacation book.

I am currently reading Downfall so far i am really enjoying. It is the second to last book of the Rob Thurman Cal series.

I'm currently rereading Someplace to Be Flying by Charles de Lint and reading for the first time (I think) The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk by Randy Shilts.

RANDY SHILTS has a bunch of excellent books, starting with THE MAYOR OF CASTRO STREET. CONDUCT UNBECOMING and AND THE BAND PLAYED ON are also must-read books if you are interested in LGBT history.

I've read and been blown away by And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic and Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the Us Military, but I saw The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk in a used bookstore a couple of months ago and bought it.

Julia wrote: "I've read 100 pages of Ancillary Justice and it's not working for me. I feel singularly uninvolved. And I'm bummed by it, I hate it when I don't like a book, especially a book that ..."

felt very much the same

- Just finished by Dan Simmons

- Now reading by Frederik Pohl

- Also on my desk stuff by Neal Asher

Just finished The Cold Between: A Central Corps Novel by Elizabeth Bonesteel and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to more in this series.

Now I have to finish up some other books so I can get to City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett.

Reading The Wise Man's Fear and really enjoying it--I like it better than the first book already. Has anyone heard anything about when book 3 will be published?

Jaleenajo wrote: "Reading The Wise Man's Fear and really enjoying it--I like it better than the first book already. Has anyone heard anything about when book 3 w..."

I just bought the first book, and I think Rothfuss is planning to release the book some time this year.

I think if you stick with ANCILLARY JUSTICE after the halfway point your determination will be rewarded. Mine was!

I just finished Jack, the Giant Killer by Charles de Lint
I have been meaning to read a book by this author for ages having heard so much about him, all good. And the average rating for this book is over 4 so I thought I was in for a treat! Sadly it turned out to be a very ordinary retelling of a fairy story. Even at a mere 200 pages I found it repetitive and not especially inspiring. Reading more reviews I see comments that it is not one of his best works so I will have to try again!
Any suggestions?

Currently I'm listening to Before They Are Hanged. I really enjoyed the first book (My Review)and fell in love with the narration. Just started this one, and so far, so good.

I'm also reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's been on my to-read list for years, but I always got distracted by other things.

I just recently finished The Oddfits for a NetGalley review (My Review) and Harmony Black for Kindle First (My Review).

Currently reading Stand on Zanzibar. Just finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Gaiman is magical.

I'm currently reading Witch and Wizard series by James Patterson, currently I'm on book 4 (The Kiss)

I just finished Mistborn by Sanderson. Now I am reading The Briar King by Greg Keyes. What a difference in style. I loved the magic elements of Allomancy in Mistborn - I thought it was unique and refreshing.
But I really love Keye's style of writing. It is detailed and gorgeous. Anyone else agree?

I'm reading Days of Blood & Starlight the second book to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy. DOS&B was amazing. This one has been a great sequel so far too. I have to read a trilogy is apart of my 2016 reading challenge and I'm so glad I picked this one.

I am trying, really trying to read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell but I keep getting sucked back into Nemesis Games.

I finished and enjoyed very much Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Shean wrote: "Now I am reading The Briar King by Greg Keyes. What a difference in style. I loved the magic elements of Allomancy in Mistborn - I thought it was unique and refreshing.
But I really love Keye's style of writing. It is detailed and gorgeous. Anyone else agree?"

I read that series last year and really enjoyed it. I didn’t think the first book seemed terribly unique, but it was written well and I enjoyed the characters. I thought the series got better and better as it went on. The story became more interesting and intricate, and I got more attached to the characters.

One thing I particularly remember was constantly thinking back to the prologue and prelude (or whatever they were called) at the beginning of the first book and going “oooohhhh…. right!” as things revealed throughout the series kept giving new meaning to what I had read in the beginning. I love it when that happens.

I Was reading 'Brida' that I found boring & left midway. I've picked 'Cold Case' by 'Stephen White' now. An engaging read about the investigation of a cold case.

I'm reading Station Eleven right now. Not my usual cup of tea but its nice to read outside of your comfort zone sometimes :) I'm reading it since my wife independently grabbed it at the airport bookstore (along with The Buried Giant and The Bone Clocks). I told her I already owned Station Eleven on Kindle and had 4 kindles with me, but she is old fashioned and still prefers physical books :) Anyways, we are reading it together right now. Now its making me wonder how old all that gas is in Walking Dead :P

Also read Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN volume 1: Activation and ordered Vol 2. so it will be waiting for me when I get back. The hardback comics are so beautiful, I think I will collect the whole set.

Also continuing along reading the next volumes of GTO and Attack on Titan.

We have a few days left of our Babymoon in Mexico - this whole Zika think started playing in the news the day after we left (d'oh!) but the mosquito count is very low here right now, and as far as I can tell there have only been 3 cases of Zika reported in Mexico total.

I am currently reading Reflections. It is the second book in a fairy tale spin off series. Both books were originally published as a kindle serial (release 1 chapter every 2 weeks).

I am reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet as a buddy read. I am doing the audio version of The Lake House.

Finished The Pirates of Pacta Servanda, it was good same quality as the last few, this book was mostly setup, but according there are only 2 more books so that makes sense.

Sky wrote: "Also read Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN volume 1: Activation and ordered Vol 2. so it will be waiting for me when I get back. The hardback comics are so beautiful, I think I will collect the whole set."

I'm really tempted but I look at that price and maybe if it's on super sale some day.

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Julia wrote: "I've read and been blown away by And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic and Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the Us Military, but I saw [..."

MadProfessah wrote: "RANDY SHILTS has a bunch of excellent books, starting with THE MAYOR OF CASTRO STREET. CONDUCT UNBECOMING and AND THE BAND PLAYED ON are also must-read books if you are interested in LGBT history."

!!!Shills Detected!!! !!!Shills Detected!!! !!!Shills Detected!!!

Monica wrote: Gaiman is magical."

Yes. Yes he is quite magical. I was so glad to see a few of his titles on the group's Bookshelf.

just watched the first episode of "the magicians " . thought it was good.

Phyrnne asked for Charles de Lint's suggestions. I've just reread Someplace to Be Flying and I loved it, also good is Trader. The first de Lint I read was Memory and Dream. I also like his short stories, look at The Very Best of Charles de Lint, Dreams Underfoot, or Waifs and Strays.

I've just finished the non-fiction The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk by Randy Shilts. It's an amazing book.

I'm now reading The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion by Will Eisner.

Here is my review of Matter 8th book in Culture series by Iain M Banks.

Julia wrote: "Phyrnne asked for Charles de Lint's suggestions. I've just reread Someplace to Be Flying and I loved it, also good is Trader. The first de Lint I read ..."

Thanks Julia. I will look out for those:)

I just finished The Gate Thief by Orson Scott Card, which I like the over arching plot, but don't like the teenage angstiness of it (which is probably accurate, but as I am not a teenager anymore, don't care about). Now I am re-reading The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks so I can track it along with the new series on MTV.

I just finished up and am now onto the second book in the series, . Loving this series!

I recently finished The Word for World is Forest (4 stars), The Windup Girl (4 stars), and Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge (4 stars).

I am now reading Leviathan and Diplomatic Immunity.

Here is my my review of Mad ship, 2nd book in Live ship traders.

I'm currently reading The Fifth Season but I'm not confident I'm going to be able to finish it.

The Water Knife, a very good near future CliFi. My review.

by R.A. Salvatore.

Finishing Slade House today, it was not an enjoyable experience. I'm thinking I probaly should have read the The Bone Clocks first. If its any thing like Slade House I'll probably skip it though. :/

Just finished Beacon 23: The Complete Novel by Hugh Howey. A psychological sci fi thriller about a soldier with PTSD. It was quite good. Here's my review

I just finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet which is a good positive space opera story.

Tomorrow I wil start reading Shadows of Self

Sumant wrote: "Here is my my review of Mad ship, 2nd book in Live ship traders."

I must be one of the only people who disliked that series.

I've started reading Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter and I've still got almost all of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell to go.

I started to read Osattomien planeetta (The Dispossessed) and I'm also making some progress in Ancillary Justice.

Catching up on a few reviews from the last few weeks..

I listened to Seven Deadly Wonders, which isn't supposed to be fantasy..but someone forgot to tell the author that. It gets pretty ridiculous. I was looking for a change of pace, and this served pretty well despite my low rating. (My Review)

I read The Pale Horseman as a buddy read with a few friends in another book club while traveling to/from Vegas. I enjoyed it, but it was spoiled a bit by having watched the TV show ahead of time. I didn't realize season 1 of the show covered all of this book. Hopefully the next book will be all new content. (My Review)

I finally got around to listening to Hyperion. I've owned the audiobook for awhile, but just hadn't made the time. I really enjoyed it. I'll be jumping right into the next book. (My Review)

I'm reading The Algebraist and The Summer Queen. I'm hoping to finish both this week but I may not finish The Summer Queen quite yet. I'm also listening to Imajica but I just took an unscheduled break to listen to The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack just because I want to :)

In Science Fiction and Fantasy I read Redshirts, Words of Radiance, Valour and Vanity. I loved the first two. V&V was the weakest of the bunch, not because of the writing style, but because Lord Byron was included as a character and when RL people get thrown into stories, it doesn't always work.

Nonfiction:
Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley It was awesome. There was a lot I didn't know about both women.

Romance:
The Hidden Blade
My Beautiful Enemy
They go together. This is the first time in a romance that I came across a story that went heavily into traditional Chinese culture and portrayed Chinese ideas of medicine and martial arts (set in the late 1800's). It was pretty riveting.

General Fiction:
The Scent of Secrets It was pretty interesting. German/English film actress asked to befriend Eva Braun early in WWII (before German invades Poland) and spy for England.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion my book group read it this month, not something I would have picked for myself. I don't think I'll be reading any more by this author.

Next up is The Ghost & Mrs. Muir and I can't wait!

Rob wrote: "I listened to Seven Deadly Wonders, which isn't supposed to be fantasy..but someone forgot to tell the author that. It gets pretty ridiculous. I was looking for a change of pace, and this served pretty well despite my low rating."

I'm guessing this is your first Matthew Reilly book. He is the Michael Bay of book writing. They're ridiculous, over-the-top, hammy, and extremely unbelievable. And one of my guilty pleasures.

For a slightly less NON-STOP ACTION, more conspiracy based author I recommend Steve Berry.

Kim wrote: "For a lightly less NON-STOP ACTION, more conspiracy based author I recommend Steve Berry. ..."

Kim's right, Berry is really fantastic. He and James Rollins actually put each other's characters in their books, too. It's fun.

I just finished Ancillary Justice which I enjoyed after I got over its confusing beginning. It is definitely a book I wouldn't have picked up if it were not on the group's shelf. So here's to expanding horizons!

I plan on reading The Fifth Season, The Wee Free Men, Talon, and FINALLY The Martian in the upcoming month.

I just completed the Vorkosigan omnibus Cordelia's Honor, and I'm going straight into Young Miles. I've put down The Great Hunt for now, but I'll pick it back up when I want to slow down.

Melanie wrote: "I just finished Ancillary Justice which I enjoyed after I got over its confusing beginning. It is definitely a book I wouldn't have picked up if it were not on the group's shelf. So..."

I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying Ancillary Justice. Like you, I wouldn't have picked this one up if not for joining this group. I've already ordered Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy for my library since none of our libraries carry hard copies.

Have you read the other Discworld books? I'm trying to read them in order, sneaking one in between other titles. Nice little romps.