SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

MadProfessah wrote: "Agreed that THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE was nothing special. I'm glad I read it but overall I was not overly impressed."

I really enjoyed The Collapsing Empire and definitely appreciated such vibrant female characters. A series for me to follow, thought to date I have not found a Scalzi I didn't like.

Allison wrote: "Rob wrote: "I guess I'm strange. I really enjoyed The Collapsing Empire and Ninefox Gambit.

Everyone else seems underwhelmed by the former, but it's probably one of..."

I wish I knew people like that IRL!

I finished Patricia McKillip's Riddle-Master trilogy, which is great. Its magic system and representation of the wind both reminded me of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle, so I poked around and found it on his list of sci-fi-and fantasy favorites.

Allison wrote: "Rob wrote: "Personally I think Collapsing Empire is a decent space opera story that is made into a really enjoyable book (for me) because of the characters and Scalzi Snark.

Like Trike said, I'm n..."

Some sci-fi writers are so in love with their own world- building you are left wading through pages and pages wondering when they are going to get on with the story.
Scalzi has great characters, great humour and great pace.

Since my last post, I’ve finished:

* Books 5 and 6 of the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, which I’m still enjoying very much. I did think book 6 was the weakest so far, but I still enjoyed reading it for the most part.
My review of book 5.
My review of book 6.

* I took another Temeraire break to read The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. This one was ok. I liked some things and disliked others, as detailed in my review.

I briefly started Temeraire book 7 last night and plan to finish up the last 3 books. The last 3 until the anthology (Golden Age and Other Stories) is published, anyway.

Travis wrote: "I finished Patricia McKillip's Riddle-Master trilogy, which is great. Its magic system and representation of the wind both reminded me of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle, so I ..."

I love that series -- the idea of a College of Riddles is so great, and the sweep of history that you get from it pretty neat too. It's underrated, I think, or maybe just not as well-known.

Second in the Dark Tower series, The Drawing of the Three.

Michele wrote: "Second in the Dark Tower series, The Drawing of the Three."

So you liked Gunslinger then, I presume! What did you think of it?

Esther wrote: "I wish I knew people like that IRL! "

I'm not gonna complain!

...But really, I can't stress this enough that no matter how competent they seem, I would not give any of them a fleet of ships or a crown. For all our sakes.

A catch up of what I've read since my last post:

Read The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness, and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1811505806.

Then a re-read of book 5 in the Witch World series by Andre Norton, Sorceress of the Witch World, and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1716692837.

Another re-read, this time the first in Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising sequence, Over Sea, Under Stone and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1366155267.

The short story by Patrick Ness, The Wide, Wide Sea, which fits after book 2 of his Chaos Walking trilogy, and reviewed it https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2041750455.

And finally Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow - review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2049505312.

After a brief foray into the lands of historical romance I came home and tackled A Darker Shade of Magic. Now I'm drowning in more past bookshelf books because like ten of my holds at the library all came up at the same time. I'm about to start The Golem and the Jinni.

said... "The Golem and the Jinn" is a special story. Old ideas given to shiny new paint. As far as I know it rates among the best entries in the Historical Fantasy genre. The Matthew Corbett series is another good'un

I really liked Golem & Jinni too.

Hey everyone
I've been reading a lot of diverse stuff this year, but Isaac Asimov books have easily become the biggest focus for me so far. Just finished the Foundation Trilogy and I, Robot. Is there anything other books by him I need to read?
I was also getting into Dan Brown (Loved this angles and demons book), and Stephen King (Just bought Dark Tower book 1: The Gunslinger).

I recently finished:

The Legion of Flame - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

and

The Left Hand of Darkness - ★★☆☆☆ - (My Review)

I just started Home which is Binti #2 by Nnedi Okorafor. I really liked the first book and I'm expecting the second to be at least as good.

Daniel wrote: "Hey everyone
I've been reading a lot of diverse stuff this year, but Isaac Asimov books have easily become the biggest focus for me so far. Just finished the Foundation Trilogy and I, Robot. Is th..."

I recently reread The Stars like Dust. It's a bit outdated but still a great read.

Just finished Memories of Ice, the Malazan Book of the Fallen #3. Wow this is a massive series, and slow going. It took nearly all 3 weeks of the library checkout to get through this one. My reading plan for the year is officially derailed.

Such a detailed, intricate, complex world full of detailed, intricate, complex characters.

Jen wrote: "Just finished Memories of Ice, the Malazan Book of the Fallen #3. Wow this is a massive series, and slow going. It took nearly all 3 weeks of the library checkout to get through this ..."

Hm. Maybe I'll hold off on this series then until I have an uninterrupted span to read them straight through.

I've finished Frankenstein and Written in Red.

Frankenstein was about what I expected it to be, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and it was actually a lot scarier than I thought it would be! Fun to get a classic under the belt. It was still a silly story, and you want to shake people to share information and be reasonable, but I guess maybe that's the nature of the beast.

Written in Red was cute, which I didn't expect to say about a book involving a person who gets sexual pleasure from cutting herself and who ran away from people looking to cut her for the prophecies cutting herself releases. Needless to say, I have some questions about the tone matching the content.

I am now onto the club reads The Obelisk Gate, then Too Like the Lightning and *sigh*Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

And then back to the list of books I wanted to finish this year!

Allison wrote: "Hm. Maybe I'll hold off on this series then until I have an uninterrupted span to read them straight through. "

May be the most rewarding story I've ever read. If "uninterrupted span" really means "never", I would encourage you to jump in, even if its not the right time. :)

Jen wrote: "Allison wrote: "Hm. Maybe I'll hold off on this series then until I have an uninterrupted span to read them straight through. "

May be the most rewarding story I've ever read. If "uninterrupted sp..."

Man, it's getting such wonderful praise from everyone I see talking about it! No, "uninterrupted span" is not a euphemism! I tend to make themes for my reading (this year is authors I haven't read, but should have by now and next year is books by people who aren't in the US majority.) So, it looks like 2019 will be the Year of Malazan. I now have a book schedule three years out.

*Shakes head* I ain't right.

Allison wrote: "*Shakes head* I ain't right. "

Haha! Well you're in good company around here.

Allison wrote: "Man, it's getting such wonderful praise from everyone I see talking about it!"

I've only read Gardens of the Moon, but I found it... challenging, and not in what I would call a good way. From what I can tell, that seems to be a common reaction.

That said, I added the second book to my list anyways. I can tell from the first book what amazing potential the series has, even if the first book drove me nuts.

David wrote: "I've only read Gardens of the Moon, but I found it... challenging, and not in what I would call a good way. From what I can tell, that seems to be a common reaction."

Good to know. I've heard that it's a bit ponderous, but the majority of reviews I've seen have also added "worth it" somewhere in the comments. I do add books like you, though, where I only add the sequel if I like the first one, so we'll see how far that gets me...in 2019. ;-)

I also found the first book challenging, and when I re-read it along with the Tor Re-read, I realized I missed a lot of the fine (and not-so-fine) details. The second book is SO MUCH better.

I'm biased but if anyone is reading Malazan, there is a group here on goodreads that did a chapter by chapter discussion over the course of about 18 months. There is both discussion for first time readers and rereaders. They are in the same thread, but all the rereader comments are inside of spoiler tags.


https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

I finished The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden. My review:

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

David wrote: "I've only read Gardens of the Moon, but I found it... challenging, and not in what I would call a good way...."

You can say that again.

Michele wrote: "Second in the Dark Tower series, The Drawing of the Three."

Allison wrote: "So you liked Gunslinger then, I presume! What did you think of it?"

Oh yes!! This is my second time through the series, and I'm realizing that I've forgotten so much (not the face of my father, though lol). The first book draws you in so quickly -- the worldbuilding is grim but compelling -- and then the second one gets pretty immediately weird with the doors on the beach and so on.

So yeah, I'm really enjoying this second trip through Midworld. I also want to find a copy of Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came and give that a read, too :)

Allison wrote: "Frankenstein was about what I expected it to be, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and it was actually a lot scarier than I thought it would be! Fun to get a classic under the belt. "

I read it a few years back and was surprised at how good it was. Some pointed lessons about pride and considering the effects of one's actions.

Currently reading Candlenight by Phil Rickman. This is the third of his pagan magic themed books for me; I still have a couple to go. Rickman is one of my new favorite authors.

Going on vacation this week, though, so not much reading will get done until afterwards.

Michele wrote: "Oh yes!! This is my second time through the series, and I'm realizing that I've forgotten so much (not the face of my father, though lol). The first book draws you in so quickly -- the worldbuilding is grim but compelling -- and then the second one gets pretty immediately weird with the doors on the beach and so on."

I will have to get to the second book. I am so many years late to this party.

Re: Frankenstein, yeah! A lot to consider. It felt a lot like Dracula to me, in that I feel that people focus a lot on the campy bits and not much on the meat these days. And the meat is still excellent. Both of them surprised me with how current they felt, despite their age.

Holly--have a great vacation!

Allison wrote: "Michele wrote: "Oh yes!! This is my second time through the series, and I'm realizing that I've forgotten so much (not the face of my father, though lol). The first book draws you in so quickly -- ..."

Thank you, Allison! This is a mother/daughter trip......we are leaving in a couple of hours. Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday, so this trip is more for her than me....I hope she has a wonderful time.

Holly wrote: "Allison wrote: "Michele wrote: "Oh yes!! This is my second time through the series, and I'm realizing that I've forgotten so much (not the face of my father, though lol). The first book draws you i..."

Sounds fantastic! I'm sure you'll both have a lovely time and happy birthday to her! :-)

Holly wrote: "Currently reading Candlenight by Phil Rickman. This is the third of his pagan magic themed books for me; I still have a couple to go. Rickman is one of my new favori..."

I see the blurb compares him to Algernon Blackwood or Arthur Machen. Would you agree?

Thomas wrote: "I have just finished Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. This was one I didn't really know what to make of and am not sure as to whether I should continue this series or ..."

I really liked Night Watch but I got bored halfway through Day Watch. It was a bit of a dud. I really want to read the whole series, though. I think if I got through Day Watch it would be better.

I read text! Not audio. I haven't been reading much lately but both of the things I read were pretty short:

Warriors of the Storm - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

and

Attack On Titan 23 - ★★★☆☆ - (My Review)

I recently reread American Gods. Great book.

This morning, I finished John Dies at the End.

Now, I'm going to reread The Gunslinger.

I recently finished Kings of the Wyld, which was a lot of fun, and Behind the Throne, which was just okay.

I've been reading the Frontlines books, and the Deathgate cycle series.

I finished Graveyard Shift by Michael F. Haspil and thought it was a blast! Interesting characters, even if you don't get to know them super well in this book, but outstanding action!

His Majesty's Dragon!

up to book 8 of the Sholan series by Lissane Norman, cant wait for the final book in September. I re read it knowing that the new book was coming out, but couldn't pace myself as it got too interesting . I haven't read it for a few years.

Mike wrote: "His Majesty's Dragon!"

I hope you enjoy it! Either way, I look forward to hearing what you think. I’ve seen a variety of opinions about it, from good to bad, on my feed.

I finally started the series myself last month and am currently on book 8 of 9.

After reading A Game of Thrones last year I decided the texts weren't for me and that I'd just stick with the TV show. And... then this week I ended up ordering the second book anyway. It's a thousand pages, but at least it's a thousand pages of characters I already know and love (or hate).

I'm currently reading The Third Nero, fifth book in the series. I'm about 70 pages from finishing it.

Justin wrote: "After reading A Game of Thrones last year I decided the texts weren't for me and that I'd just stick with the TV show. And... then this week I ended up ordering the second book anyway...."

The second book is one of the best Fantasy novels I've ever read. Sadly, the series takes a header off a cliff after that.

Personally I thought the first 3 books of Song of Ice and Fire were good. The 4th book was a struggle. The 5th book was better than the 4th, but still bloated with too many POVs. Unifying all the POVs from 4 & 5 is going to be a chore too.

I'll be curious to see what he does in The Winds of Winter. At this point, I'm not sure I will bother. Maybe if he ever completes the series I'll read the final books. There is just too much other stuff out there to read instead.

I read Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. My review:

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