SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Phrynne wrote: "My review of City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

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

I loved this too, and the sequel. My review:

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

Veronica wrote: "And I've since discovered that Tim Curry narrates the audiobooks so I'll finish out the series in that format."

No way!!! I must have these....

Finished Night Pilgrims and An Embarrassment of Riches. Enjoying my visit with the Comte St. Germain so much that I also re-read the first in the series chronologically (Out of the House of Life) as well the first one in publication order (Hôtel Transylvania, and am now reading Midnight Harvest.

Also, just finished a re-read of A Clockwork Orange for a group read over on Literary Darkness. Bought a new copy to ensure I got to read the long-omitted-from-American-editions final chapter (ch. 21). I must say it does change the tone of the book a bit.

Been dipping into Skeleton Crew here and there, too, after a couple of stories from that collection were mentioned in a GR discussion. I'd forgotten how creepy is that stupid monkey with the cymbals. Brrrrr.

Here is my review of The Fires of Heaven.

I seen to be trying unsuccessfully to read anything whatsoever.

Michele wrote: "Veronica wrote: "And I've since discovered that Tim Curry narrates the audiobooks so I'll finish out the series in that format."

No way!!! I must have these...."

I double checked and Curry does narrate the first and second books but it seems the third book in the trilogy is narrated by Graeme Malcolm. Someone said that this might have been around the time that Curry had a stroke.

My review of Maskerade by Terry Pratchett

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

i'm starting to reread dan simmons' 'the terror' https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... since the news that it's been found is now prominent in radio, tv, and online media. https://www.theguardian.com/world/201...

Autumn is starting to make itself felt outside which makes it the perfect time to start rereading Harvest Home: A Novel. I read this about 45 years ago and absolutely loved it. It has remained high on my list of favorite horror novels ever since. Hopefully it will stand the test of time and be as good as I remember it.

Roberta wrote: "i'm starting to reread dan simmons' 'the terror' https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... since the news that it's been found is now prominent in radio, tv, and onl..."

Very interesting! I had seen the news, but didn't know it was connected to a Simmons book.

Finished re-reading Skeleton Crew (had totally forgotten the Lovecraft homage "Gramma"!). Now re-reading Midnight Harvest -- St. Germain in 1930s Spain and U.S.

currently on knights shadow (The Greatcoats Book 2) Also wrapping up the frist law series with Sharp Ends on audible.

As an author, I think it's vital to read - a lot! So I do, and I review them all, too. I like all kinds of genres, but prefer fantasy (all sub-genres), horror, paranormal and science fiction. Although I don't like erotica, westerns or romance.

The best reads lately have been, Kate Wrath's E series, Brian Harmon's Rushed series and I love Amy Cross's work.

I finally finished Royal Assassin with very mixed feelings about it.

I've started the audio book for Chosen. Sliding back into some well written UF is like putting on an old worn in pair of jeans.

Valerie wrote: "I finally finished Royal Assassin with very mixed feelings about it.

I've started the audio book for Chosen. Sliding back into some well written UF is like putting on ..."

I really enjoyed the audible of Chosen

the Rise of Endymion. I read Hyperion for the group read a few years ago. a friend said I had to read the whole series. so I am.

Starworld by Harry Harrison. Not my first read of this story.

Although Harrison is a bit naive about politics, he can spin a good yarn and this is the third installment of his "To the Stars" trilogy. I'm almost done and enjoying it.

It's straight-up SF without the tongue-in-cheek style of his Stainless Steel Rat series.

Catching up on some reviews. I've been pretty busy between PAX West and World of Warcraft so both my reading and my reviews have been light this month.

Bossypants - (My Review)

The Fires of Heaven - (My Review)

The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon - The Story Behind the Craze That Touched Our Lives and Changed the World - (My Review)

A Fire Upon the Deep - (My Review)

Rob wrote: "Catching up on some reviews. I've been pretty busy between PAX West and World of Warcraft so both my reading and my reviews have been light this month..."

Ah, the new Legion expansion! My husband has been pretty engrossed for the last month as well :)

I'm currently reading I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, but I'm going to have to put aside for awhile. I left it out in the rain overnight, and that's not good for a paperback.

I started the new to me series Arrivals by Ellen Kushner, set in Kushner's city from Swordspoint with each novella by different novelists.

I am also a Wow widow this month.

You guys could just play too! :)

Oroonoko, The Bell Jar, and The Complete Essays

I'd rather read, Rob.

So think of all the bonus undisturbed reading time! :)

Julia wrote: "I am also a Wow widow this month."

Heh. I'm thinking of having t-shirts made ;)

Rob wrote: "You guys could just play too! :)"

Thanks, but killing diseased moonbears isn't really my cuppa ;)

Although I had to laugh because today Spouse was battling a librarian for some reason lol

My review for Shattered by Kevin Hearne

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

Just finished Becky Chambers Wayfarers #1 and now I'm switching to mystery. Reading book 3 in Adrian Mckinty's Sean Duffy series.

Sky wrote: "I finally finished Dust of Dreams. I thought Dust of Dreams could have been a lot shorter, it was one of my least favorite books in the series. Still heads and shoulders above most o..."

How is Attack on Titan, Volume 01? Been debating giving it a shot.

Valerie wrote: "Sky wrote: "I finally finished Dust of Dreams. I thought Dust of Dreams could have been a lot shorter, it was one of my least favorite books in the series. Still heads and shoulders ..."

You should - to be honest i found it a bit confusing for the first few volumes, either something was lost in translation or there is a lot left unsaid, but after a few volumes you start to understand the story better and it gets quite good.

Adding it to my list. Lately, I've been on a Fables binge.

I'm reading The Hangman's Daughter. Good lead in to October. Translated from German by Lee Chadeayne, and Boy's Life by Robert McCammon, another good Halloween type story.

I will soon be reading a book I've been waiting four years for :) Back in 2012 over on "What's the Name of That Book?" somebody posted this description. Ever since then I have been desperately hoping someone would solve it, because I wanted to read it too. Well, it finally got identified a few days ago, after four years almost to the very day, so I scarpered off to abebooks and ordered a copy and it arrived today. Yeehah!

Valerie wrote: "Adding it to my list. Lately, I've been on a Fables binge."

Nice :) I haven't read those in a few years.

Here is my review for Foundation

I am trying really hard to finish Hunted, but I have to admit I am having a hard time staying interested. My library copy of Broken Monsters has arrived, so I might skip over to it for my old school reading.

However, my old school reading time has been spent on a graphic novel binge lately with several volumes leading up to Fables, Vol. 11: War and Pieces and then moving on to The Walking Dead, Vol. 01: Days Gone Bye.

In audio format, I have stuck with Alex Verus and I'm currently listening to Hidden.

I'm reading The Gates.

Maryam wrote: "I'm reading The Gates."

I really liked that one and you have reminded me to read the sequel.

Just finished The Eyre Affair, about 1/3 of the way through Authority, and just started Fellside two days ago.

Phrynne wrote: "Maryam wrote: "I'm reading The Gates."

I really liked that one and you have reminded me to read the sequel."

yupe, I really like it too.

Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father. Fascinating. I didn't realize her father was friends with Thoreau, Emerson, and all the other New England literati. And it adds a whole new dimension to Little Women, which has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid.

Been reading and restarting The Bell Jar over and over. Did the same with Brave New World which I finished a few days ago. Goal is to finish The Bell Jar by Friday.

I’m slowly working my way through Kim Harrison’s “The Hollows” series.
I'm nearly finished with The Outlaw Demon Wails, book 6, but somehow I’m still not that fond of Rachel and am pondering if I really should continue.

The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin. Still engrossing as ever.

I am currently reading two very different books:

Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now by Ayaan Hirsi Ali for the last book in my Read Harder Challenge about religion. I'm not sure I'll read this whole book, as I just read I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.

I am also reading Heavenly Bodies by Joel Derfner. This one-- which is a series of novellas set in the world of the novel Swordspoint, with different authors. I am enjoying it a lot!

Here is my review for The Darkness That Comes Before.

Definitely not an easy book to get through.

Since my last post earlier this month, I’ve read all six of the Earthsea books. I really enjoyed the series overall. At some point in the future, I’d like to try some of her science fiction books that we have on our group shelves.

I think I liked the second book the best. I thought the sixth book was the weakest of the series, despite a strong start. There was too much repetition of stories we’d already been told, and not all of those stories on which the plot was based seemed to make logical sense. Sometimes I felt like the author was telling me, “This is just what happened, don’t ask me why or how.”

Here are my reviews of the individual books:
Book 1 – A Wizard of Earthsea
Book 2 – The Tombs of Atuan
Book 3 – The Farthest Shore
Book 4 – Tehanu
Book 5 – Tales from Earthsea
Book 6 – The Other Wind

Currently I’m reading the next Discworld book on my list, Soul Music, then I plan to read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.

My reading continues to be slow, but I did a few audiobooks:

The Golden Compass - My Review

Also non-SFF: The Hard Bounce - My Review

My September reading included: Little, Big (2); The Lies of Locke Lamora (4); and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (3).



I am currently reading Hammered and Broken Monsters.

I feel like I've been stuck on a losing streak of books lately. Finally finished The Well of Ascension, The Big Nowhere and Unnatural History which were all 2 star books for me.

I'm slowly pushing my way through The Children of Men which is just barely scraping a 2 star right now.

Really hoping our October books are better.