SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Let me know if you guys want the threads up prior to the 10th.

Chris wrote: "It is one of the two Bookshelf reads for December. See 2016 Group Bookshelf Readi..."

OK, I see that, thanks. But where's the discussion thread?

The Lions of Al-Rassan discussion threads

Not sure we will use all five threads. Typically we use one "first impressions" thread and one "full discussion with spoilers" thread.

My review of A Crown of Swords

Chris wrote: "The Lions of Al-Rassan discussion threads

Not sure we will use all five threads. Typically we use one "first impressions" thread and one "full discussion with spoilers" thread."

Thanks!

I was reading Dresden Book 3, but it's fucking terrible, so I'm dropping it.

Is there a spot on this group where I can ask someone to spoil the entire book so I can go onto book 4 next month?

Michele wrote: "Tanima wrote: "So,I'm trying to get through Parliament of Whores, and I do love many things politics, but this one is a little slow, which is surprising given it's supposedly comical...."

I love P. J. O'Rourke :)"

Me too! Parliament of Whores is one of my favorites! I'm going to read On the Wealth of Nations in the coming months.

Michele wrote: "Chris wrote: "It is one of the two Bookshelf reads for December. See 2016 Group Bookshelf Readi..."

OK, I see that, thanks. But where's the discussion thread?"

Here's the link to the post with the discussion threads. I went ahead and put them up early. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Chris, thanks for pulling up the Al-Rassan ones. That made it easier for me :)

I only joined this club last month, so I am beginning The Grace of Kings today but unfortunately will not have time for the other books for December. Looking forward to 2017.

Since my last post, I’ve read:

1. The Spiritwalker trilogy by Kate Elliott, beginning with Cold Magic. I did enjoy it, but I was also a little disappointed with it. I had higher expectations based on my experience with her Crossroads trilogy several years ago. This trilogy seemed a little simpler and maybe intended for a younger audience, which made more sense once I read the afterword from the first book and learned the author had collaborated on the story with her three teenage children. However, there were also some annoyances with her writing, such as unrealistic dialogue being used to deliver exposition.

My reviews:
Book 1 – Cold Magic
Book 2 – Cold Fire
Book 3 – Cold Steel

2. Somewhere in the middle of the above series I had to take a long road trip, so I made yet another attempt at listening to an audio book. I’m not good with audio books, but this time I picked a winner. I listened to Transformation, book 1 of Carol Berg’s Rai-Kirah trilogy. I read this in print several years ago and loved it. It was my first exposure to her writing and it wasn’t until a few months ago that I tried some more of her books. I loved them too, and that made me want to re-read this trilogy. The audiobook was, for me, a rare combination of a great story combined with a great narrator (Kevin Stillwell). After my road trip, I continued listening to it during my work commutes and it made the commute much more pleasant. My review.

3. Hogfather, the fourth book in the Death subseries of Discworld. I’ve heard a lot about this one, mostly from friends on another site, so I had been curious to read it. It’s a very funny book, but I didn’t think it was one of his better stories, plot-wise. It has some great moments, though. My review.

4. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. This was my first time reading anything by Atwood, and I was pretty impressed. The message in the book isn’t particularly unique, but the story easily held my attention and I liked the way the author simulated a story being told out loud. It made it a bit quirky, but not in a distracting way. My review.

I’m getting ready to start NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. I’m also currently in the middle of the second audiobook from the aforementioned Rai-Kirah trilogy, Revelation.

I just finished Gilded Cage by Vic James, the start of a new young adult fantasy series. My review:

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

Just finished A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. thought it was pretty good will be reading the next book A Gathering of Shadows. Currently reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

I'm currently reading Karen Memory. Not sure what to make of it so far. I had no idea what it was about going into it. It moves pretty slow imo.

Also slowly going through Queen of Sorcery. It's a big omnibus edition so I can't carry it around like my Kindle.

MorteTorment(Unofficial World's Fastest Reader) wrote: "

Is there a spot on this group where I can ask someone to spoil the entire book so I can go onto book 4 next month?"

No spot in this group, I usually rely on wikipedia for all my 'want to read to the end quickly' books.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_P...

Michele wrote: "Chris wrote: "The Lions of Al-Rassan discussion threads

Not sure we will use all five threads. Typically we use one "first impressions" thread and one "full discussion with spoilers" thread."

Tha..."

I am not likely to start commenting until the middle of the month but I will definitely do it then so be patient if you want company.

2001: a Space Odyssey was a dissapointment. I really feel the need to read Frederik Pohl to compensate. I love Frederik Pohl.

I'm interested in Hearing more about what people think of V.E. Schwab's books. Fantasy has a somewhat higher bar to stoke my interest but A GATHERING OF SHADOWS appears to get lots of excellent reviews.

MadProfessah wrote: "I'm interested in Hearing more about what people think of V.E. Schwab's books. Fantasy has a somewhat higher bar to stoke my interest but A GATHERING OF SHADOWS appears to get lots of excellent rev..."

Personally I thought it was totally over hyped. I would read the kindle sample and see what you think.

I am now reading a Red Dwarf omnibus. I needed a light, funny read after having read so many dissapointing books in the last months.

I have just started shadowmarch by tad Williams. I am also reading the books of the south by Glen cook. And promise of blood by Brian mccellan

Lemmed the second Dirk Gently book. Boring.

Finally finished with Stories of Your Life and Others (Ted Chiang). Could not get into half of the stories. But 'Story of Your Life' is amazing and must read for SF fans. The movie is in theaters as well.

Starting Red Mars (Kim Stanley Robinson). 15% and I am loving it!

Just finished the amazing Remnants of Trust by Elizabeth Bonesteel.

Now I'm reading After the Crown by K.B. Wagers.

Finished up listening to A Crown of Swords, like a few of the other books I enjoyed it more on my reread than the first time (My Review).

Currently Reading Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman and re-reading the sci-fi series The Caphenon and Without A Front – The Producer’s Challenge by Fletcher DeLancey

Just started Low Town. Crime noir in a fantasy setting so far. Not bad.
Put The Grace of Kings on hold for now, as I don't like it. It's mostly boring.

Ian wrote: "I have just started shadowmarch by tad Williams."

I've read his Otherland series (City of Golden Shadow et seq) and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy (The Dragonbone Chair et seq) but have not yet tried Shadowmarch. How is it so far?

Michele wrote: "Ian wrote: "I have just started shadowmarch by tad Williams."

I've read his Otherland series (City of Golden Shadow et seq) and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy ([book:The Dragonbone et seq) but have not yet tried Shadowmarch. How is it so far? ..."

Good question. I have read the other two series you mention and have all 4 Shadowmarch books on my shelf waiting to go.

Finished Terrier by Tamora Pierce. I thought maybe it was something I could share with my 8 year old niece--an early read to introduce her to one of my favorite authors from when I was a kid. I don't think this book is that.

Started Leviathan Wakes, which I should also not share with my niece, but that was expected this time ;-) Only about 10% in, but it's a very quick read, and I'm interested to see where it goes.

Currently reading The Black Prism.

I'm currently reading Michael Chabon's latest book Moonglow . My favorite of his novels have a bit of the woo- woo. Each novel has different woo- woo.

Gentlemen of the Road is a sort of high fantasy, that is also historical fiction. The Yiddish Policemen's Union is about a culture that is ending in Alaska: the last Jews are leaving. The Jews from Eastern Europe during World War II mostly were not killed, they moved to Alaska. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is about the creation of a superhero by two cousins who needed a superhero.

Julia wrote: "I'm currently reading Michael Chabon's latest book Moonglow . My favorite of his novels have a bit of the woo- woo. Each novel has differe..."

Are Chabon's books actual genre stories or are they regular literature *about* genre?

I don't normally post until after I finish a book/write a review but I'm excited about starting Babylon's Ashes this morning!

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is pure literature. There's no genre element. I would describe Yiddish Policemen's Union as literature that could only be told in an alternate universe. I haven't read any others yet.

Julia, how is Moonglow?

Just finished The Grace of Kings and am currently reading Children of Time and The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

A little bit of fiction and a little bit of science

I'm about two-thirds through The Final Empire. Thoroughly enjoyable!

I'm about 65% through Ancillary Sword. Really enjoying this series! I've already checked out book three from my library!

I'm also about half finished with A Torch Against the Night. I'm liking most of what I'm reading but it drags at times. Doesn't mean I won't devour book three when it comes out.

I'm having a relaxed re-read of Snuff

Here is my review of Wild Seed.

Trike asked:

Are Chabon's books actual genre stories or are they regular literature *about* genre?

Yes. It depends. For instance,

The Final Solution is a mystery to the characters, but we readers know what is going on.

Gentlemen of the Road is a fantasy or historical fiction novella, or short novel, I forget.

Summerland is a baseball and fantasy novel.

I'm only on page 40 of Moonglow, but I'm enjoying it.

But Born a Crime by Trevor Noah just came from the library. I'm on page 135.

It's ok so far Michelle I'm not very far into it. Seems very interesting so far with the plot and opening chapters

Just started Station Eleven, loaned/recommended by a friend. Engrossing.

I listened to iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It. It was OK (My Review).

I also finally finished reading The Golem and the Jinni, which I enjoyed, even if it took me over a month to read (My Review).

I've stalled on The Grace of Kings so I picked up Abaddon's Gate.

I'm also in the middle of Kidnapped (loving it) and Tristessa (not loving it - MC is a morphine addict).

My review of Burned by Benedict Jacka

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

Trike, I think if a book is well enough disguised as literature that we're wondering, is it a genre story or literature in a niche? I'm in favor of doing the Author the complement of calling it Literature.

I look at it much like UF vs PNR. It's what drives the story. There are literary writers that use genre elements because that's the way the story has to be told. And then there are writers that write genre stories that may or may not have literary writing styles.

I think that's what Trike was asking, or at least that was my interpretation. Chabon is a literary writer who sometimes uses genre elements. This is pretty much my sweet spot :)

I'm making my way through the Riyria chronicles, the second trilogy by Michael J Sullivan. So far I'm Up to book 2: The
Rose and the Thorn.

WOW Even better than the first one! Crooked Kingdom
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just got done reading Lady of the Trillium by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It had dark settings and was at some times, depressing. The story was entertaining, however.

Melissa wrote: "WOW Even better than the first one! Crooked Kingdom
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

This is my favorite series of the year; however, I think Six of Crowswas better.