The Sword and Laser discussion

I am reading and listening along the 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline from Jacksonville Public library.
the e-book and the mp3 audio book at the same time.
readed up to level 1 the first gate:copper.

updated on May 16: level 2 ch 18 MP3 part 7 p.193.

May 18, level 3 ch 28 mp3 part 10.

I have finished it today,May 20.
beware of will wheaton. Plus I think that Ernest Cline is a time traveler from the Future.

Finished Dragons of Spring Dawning and decided on something completely different as a palate cleanser: L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories.

Francis x wrote: "I am reading and listening along the 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline from Jacksonville Public library.
the e-book and the mp3 audio book at the same time."

I loved that book in print. Is the audio good?

Carolina wrote: "I loved that book in print. Is the audio good? "

I really enjoyed the audio. It's read by Wil Wheaton who I find a goof fit for the story.

He reviews books on Goodreads too.

Carolina wrote: "Francis x wrote: "I am reading and listening along the 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline from Jacksonville Public library.
the e-book and the mp3 audio book at the same time."

I loved that b..."

I loved the audio. Wil Wheaton's style does not fit every book but it was spot on for Ready Player One.

I'm reading Khaled and enjoying it. It is a romance set in Arabia. Instead of vampires and/or werewolves it involves a genii and the sultan's daughter. It was written about 100 years ago, just shows Twilight et al. wern't the first by any means. The setting is exotic, the language fun, and the plot engaging. I'd class this more of a romance than a fantasy, but it is good enough that even though I'm not a reader of the romance genre I'm hooked.

Well, I finished Extinction Pointand what seemed to be an interesting premise, turned out to be way different than I thought. I found myself frustrated with the main character and some writing quirks (I know how to connect with wifi and check email, I don't need every single step dictated to me, thanks!)but it did get better at the end. It was definitely a big set up for the next two books. I'm willing to try the next book in the series Exodus, especially since I can borrow it for free from Amazon Prime.

I may also try The Curse of the Mistwraith or The Iron King Not sure yet.

Finished L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories (it was short and I had lots of reading time on the way to & from seeing Godzilla) and am about to start Martian Quest: The Early Brackett by Leigh Brackett.

My library just bought the ebook version of Golden Fool so I'm putting aside American Gods to read it. I've been a little disappointed by American Gods after everything I've heard about it. I'm not finding myself all that interested in Shadow, probably because he doesn't do much protaging for a protagonist.

Shad wrote: "My library just bought the ebook version of Golden Fool so I'm putting aside American Gods to read it. I've been a little disappointed by American Gods after everyth..."

Same here. I love Gaiman, but couldn't get into American Gods. I put it aside after 150 pages. And it was mostly because of Shadow. It's hard to root for a guy who doesn't really want anything, and seems to exist so people can tell him exposition about the world and the other Gods.

I have finally finished The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and got to ask if it is a typical book of Heinlein? Because I kind of want to read Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land, but if they are anything like this one I might not.

I have seen the movie version of Starship Troopers which is kind of the reason I would like to read the book.

Viola wrote: "I have finally finished The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and got to ask if it is a typical book of Heinlein? Because I kind of want to read Starship Troopers and [book:Strange..."

I'd say not entirely typical; but what in particular about Moon wasn't working for you? That might help to determine whether it's worth your while to try others.

Viola wrote: "I have finally finished The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and got to ask if it is a typical book of Heinlein? Because I kind of want to read Starship Troopers and [book:Strange..."

I love the movie but hate the book. They are nothing alike!

The writing mostly, but I think that it was because it was written in the dialect of the "loonies".

I also got the impression that he was a bit racist and his opinion on women seemed a bit odd.

Viola wrote: "The writing mostly, but I think that it was because it was written in the dialect of the "loonies".

I also got the impression that he was a bit racist and his opinion on women seemed a bit odd."

Hmmmm ... yeah, in that case you may want to just skip them.

I finally finished the very good 2008 Steampunk anthology: my review.

This is my 1st real post to the Sword and Laser group! I am current reading The Mistborn Trilogy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I absolutely love it so far.

Finished listening to Brian McClellan's The Crimson Campaign on Audible
My review

Starting Michael J Sullivan's The Crown Tower also on Audible

I decided to give Exodus by Paul Antony Jones a try. It didn't get any better. I skimmed over most of it, and I have no interest in the last book, which is too bad.

I'm going through my samples now, and deciding between A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham or The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts. Or maybe I will continue with The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin. I would like to find a series that I can actually finish! It feels like it's been awhile since I liked a series enough to finish it.

So many books to read!

Finished Christmas Magic. It's a collection of genre stories with a Christmas theme by different authors. They were hit and miss but the stand out was The Nutcracker Coup by Janet Kagan which won a Hugo in 1993.
Finally starting The Martian.

I finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and now starting on The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

I went back to listening to The End is Nigh and the story "Enlightenment" by Matthew Mather might be the most horrifying story ever heard. I can't decide if that's good or not. Probably, in the context of pre-apocalypse stories but goodness. I thought I might throw up while driving.

Making my way through the last few Mongoliad/Foreworld Saga stories I have and still slow-rolling the S&L Anthology. Trying to figure out what's up next, after I finish Foreworld...I have 3 (maybe 4) options, all interesting:
Dresden Files 1-4 (maybe 1-7, I have them all now but 1-4 in audio)
The Dragonbone Chair
Promise of Blood (if it doesn't win the June poll)
Hexed and the other Atticus O'Sullivan books...

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I went back to listening to The End is Nigh and the story "Enlightenment" by Matthew Mather might be the most horrifying story ever heard. I can't decide if that's good or not. Prob..."

I listened to one story from that and liked it.
Are the other two collections out now?

Bryan wrote: "I listened to one story from that and liked it.
Are the other two collections out now? "

Not yet! (Went looking and updated my response) Updated release dates are September 2014 for #2 and March 2015 for #3.

I finished The Crimson Campaign earlier this week and really enjoyed it (My Review). I hope the group reads Promise of Blood next month, so more people can check out the series.

I also finished listening to Revelation Space and was mostly underwelmed (My Review).

Of possible less interest to the group (except maybe to the computer geeks) I read The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage which I thought was really great. (My Review)

Carolina wrote: "Francis x wrote: "I am reading and listening along the 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline from Jacksonville Public library.
the e-book and the mp3 audio book at the same time."

I loved that b..."

oh, yes; it read be wil wheaten, Himself.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Bryan wrote: "I listened to one story from that and liked it.
Are the other two collections out now? "

Not yet! (Went looking and updated my response) Updated release dates are September 2014 for ..."

Got it.
And thank you, Jenny! As always, it pays to ask a librarian.

here is link for any info of coming movie(in development): http://readyplayerone.com/

Still reading some non-fiction in comic book form with Scott McCloud's less popular Reinventing Comics volume. I'm tempted to start Tess Gerritsen's Gravity, which is like of like Apollo 13 with a doctor. I'll probably finish the manga-like Anya's Ghost soon.

After finishing H. Rider Haggard's Allan Quatermain, have started in on The Borgias: The Hidden History.

*terpkristen - highly recommend Dresden by audio. Marsters really channels Harry Dresden. I've read and listened to the whole series and just loved the audio versions.

Raced through Shades of Milk and Honey (Mary Robinette Kowal) - well written but...it's like she took a bunch of scenes/characters from Jane Austen's books and mashed them into one story. Hopefully, the following books will get their own unique voice, really liked the magic.

Listening to The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Mark Hodder), starts a bit slow but really getting into it now (Chapter 5).

Listened to both The Lives of Tao (Wesley Chu) and Influx (Daniel Suarez). Enjoyed both.

Finally read M.J. Locke's Up Against It. Highly recommended if you liked either Downbelow Station or James S. A. Corey. Currently reading the late Sebastian Horsley's memoir Dandy in the Underworld. Not SF&F obviously, but an interesting character sketch of decadence.

Finished A Game of Thrones. My review. Moving on to Fool Moon.

Okay... on the book-book front, I've finished The Martian and A Crown of Swords. I've started Sword & Laser Anthology, Furies of Calderon and A Stitch in Time and I'm looking to finish those soonish. And I'm still working my way through London Falling, Abaddon's Gate and Ancillary Justice.

On the comics/graphic novels front, I've done Volumes 18 and 19 of The Walking Dead, All 3 of the post-DA2 Dragon Age comics (Dragon Age: The Silent Grove, Dragon Age Volume 2: Those Who Speak and Dragon Age Volume 3: Until We Sleep) plus the first 3 TPBs of Saga and Y: The Last Man and the first TPB of Sex Criminals

Finished Golden Fool. I enjoyed this one very much as well. My review.

Time to get back to American Gods. I am finding I like the book a lot better when Wednesday is not in it.

Task Force Ombra: Grunt Life is going pretty awesome. But I'm having trouble staying away from The Blood of Alexander. Definitely the best adventure thriller I've read ever.

@Shad: My opinion is to stick with American Gods to the end. I was extremely frustrated with most of the book, but I found the payoff to be totally worth it. It's one of the few books that has completely changed my mind midway. It might be different with you but I thought how the book finished off was brilliant.

American Gods is definitely a hit and miss, so if you're not digging it, you're not alone. Most folk who didn't enjoy American Gods still love Gaiman, so if that's your first, don't let it set the bar for you for his books.

Checked out Chew which I got as part of a recent Humble Bundle
My review

I'm continuing my Daniel Suarez kick after just finishing a listen of Freedom™ & now onto Kill Decision. His books are just clicking w/ me

I've just finished a whole slew of books this month. So far I've read:

Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1) by John Scalzi: My Review
The Thief (The Queen's Thief, #1) by Megan Whalen Turner: My Review
The Queen of Attolia (The Queen's Thief #2) by Megan Whalen Turner: My Review
Assault or Attrition (Arena Mode #2) by Blake Northcott: My Review
The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner: My Review

I'm now reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and am about 3/4 done with that. I'm not one for reading much romance these days, especially without some kind of fantasy or SciFi element, but for a romance strongly based on historical fiction, I'm really impressed with the story and how fast I'm reading this massive book. I'm definitely going to get the rest of the books of this series if it's anything as good as this one.

I had already read The Martian, so I've had a chance to read a couple of books I've been meaning to read for a long time. I've read Calculating God, The Postman, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, and Johnny Got His Gun so far this month.

Michele wrote: "Raced through Shades of Milk and Honey (Mary Robinette Kowal) - well written but...it's like she took a bunch of scenes/characters from Jane Austen's books and mashed them into one story. Hopefully, the following books will get their own unique voice, really liked the magic."

I wasn't wowed by the first book. It was okay, but not great. I got the second book on sale through Audible and really enjoyed it. I've now listened to the 3rd and 4th books and am in love with the series.

ok, so I'm about 11% through with The Curse of the Mistwraithby Janny Wurts. Where has this book been all my life? I'm not entirely sure what's going on (two characters were in one place at the end of a chapter and in the next chapter they are..someplace else?), but I'm definitely along for the ride!

The writing style, while very descriptive, and "grand", it feels like the good old fashioned fantasy I used to read as a kid. Liking this a lot so far.

Finished up Hounded in my Kindle (A dog who quotes Star Wars? I'm all in!) and The Name of the Wind (I enjoyed it as well) on audible about the same time. Now I'm about a fourth of the way reading The Long Earth. I've also downloaded The Martian from audible but have only had time to listen to the first chapter so far.

Misti wrote: "Finished up Hounded in my Kindle (A dog who quotes Star Wars? I'm all in!) and The Name of the Wind (I enjoyed it as well) on audible about the same time. Now I'm about..."

I love Hounded!

I love Hounded too! But it looks like I'll be stuck reading the Dresden Files for awhile thanks to that one Amazon Kindle sale instead of continuing with the Iron Druid Chronicles series. Not that that's a bad thing though. ^_^

Finished Volume Two of Chew (it rhymes - I'm a poet and didn't know it)
My review (and again!)