SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I started The Way of Kings last night. It was really late so I only got through the Prelude and the Prologue but already I feel like I should be taking copious notes. lol

Michele wrote: "Finished Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I'd forgotten how much the ending tears me up. It's a good ending and a right ending, but that doesn't mean I have to like it >:|"

I'll be starting the third book in the series soon. I already have an idea in my head about the ending for at least one character. We'll see how right I am when I get there.

Hank wrote: "I just finished Underground Airlines and it was as Sarah advertised, fantastic! Great audio and story. "

Woohoo!!!

"I am in the middle of The Fold and Moxyland

I have Moxyland waiting for me on my phone. Interested in your opinion.

Veronica wrote: I'll be starting the third book in the [Dark Tower] series soon. I already have an idea in my head about the ending for at least one character. We'll see how right I am when I get there."

Well now I'm curious :) Who, and what? I promise not to reveal anything but I'm really curious what your thoughts are, especially still with four books to go!

Chris wrote: "His torso isn't bare with a six-pack, and you can see his face. :D"

Hah. Good point :)

Finished The Dark Tower! Had forgotten how rich and complex his world is.

Now, re-reading I Am Legend for a group read (actually TWO group reads). Next up is Osama, which was recommended to me by Christopher Buehlman (who negotiated the conveyance of a copy to me this past weekend, happy surprise!). Looking forward to that one for sure.

Michele wrote: "Well now I'm curious :) Who, and what? I promise not to reveal anything but I'm really curious what your thoughts are, especially still with four books to go!"

Nothing super detailed, lol. But just from where I am right now in the series (view spoiler)[I can't see any other ending for Roland other than dying at the end (hide spoiler)]. I could be way off though.

@Veronica: That does seem the most likely end, doesn't it? Those who live by the sword etc etc etc. I shall not say whether it's accurate or not though ;)

I just started the prologue from The Stone Sky. Maybe there's someone out there who reads it as well and might want to buddy-read. I think I could use some help to refresh my memory from time to time...

Sabrina wrote: "I just started the prologue from The Stone Sky. Maybe there's someone out there who reads it as well and might want to buddy-read. I think I could use some help to refresh my memory..."

My book group is reading it, though I'm not sure if anyone has actually started it yet. I'm running a bit behind and will probably start next week.

I was going to start The Stone Sky but I want to re-read books one and two first. I'm also in a major reading slump and sleep deprived after Worldcon, so reading anything seems almost impossible at the moment. I've just been listening to podcasts and staring at the ceiling.

Finished The Hugo Winners 1968-1970 and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2087465116.

I'll be reading The Stone Sky, but I have about three other books to finish first.

Michele wrote: "@Veronica: That does seem the most likely end, doesn't it? Those who live by the sword etc etc etc. I shall not say whether it's accurate or not though ;)"

:-) I'll get there.

Currently I am reading SunRider by Rafael Hohmann. It is seriously such a great book. The author is new, so it's nice reading a fantasy novel from a fresh perspective. I wish book 2 was out already!

I'm also really looking forward to the 2nd book of the Forgetting Moon by Brian Lee Durfee. I hope it comes out soon.

I am reading the lost earth by Vaughn Heppner. I am a space battle, action adventure type science fiction. No time travel, or other stuff just yet. The Expanse was indeed refreshing. Havent touched the latest one yet.

Gulliver's Travels -- relaunching a quest to have read the Classics of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Monica wrote: "Ha! This happened to me with Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. My 22 year old self thought it was amazing and brilliant!!! My well beyond 40 year old self thought it was self important drivel passing as enlightenment. Oh, my how I have grown time has flown... ;-) ."

OMG - I had the same exact reaction to that book, at about the same ages. What were we thinking?

I was in the mood for something light to go with the stunning summer we are having in Seattle so I am reading Gary Alan Henson's Arlo & Jake Lost Partner. Don't laugh, I grew up on Lost in Space, My Favorite Martian and the original Star Trek - all of which were fun and campy!

Peggy wrote: "Monica wrote: "Ha! This happened to me with Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. My 22 year old self thought it was amazing and brilliant!!! My well beyond 40 year old self thought it ..."

When I was 17 a friend handed me this book and breathlessly urged me to read it because 'It changed my life!"
Obviously I was a cynic even then because my one word review was 'codswallop'.

Tried Leigh Bardugo's books.

The first two books of the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm) were mediocre enough that I decided not to read the third.

The sequel duology set in the same universe (Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom) was excellent.

Penric's Fox was enjoyable and I expected nothing less from it, but I have to confess I was looking for a story set after Mira's Last Dance. I dearly want to see what Penric does with his life after the fiasco of Penric’s Mission. Also, am I the only person desperately praying for another full length Chalion novel?

Spectred Isle is marketed as a romance, but it contained some creepily excellent worldbuilding.

Esther wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Monica wrote: "Ha! This happened to me with Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. My 22 year old self thought it was amazing and brilliant!!! My well beyond 40 year old se..."

My aunt handed me something as a teen that she thought was brilliant and would change my entire world view and my reaction was that she mustn't read very much.

Read:

The Hugo Winners 1968-1970 - review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2087465116

Nightwings by Robert Silverberg - review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2094886576.

How Not to Write a Novel: 200 Classic Mistakes and How to Avoid Them—A Misstep-by-Misstep Guide - review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2098483122

Finished recently:

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie,

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

An Age of License: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley

Becoming Unbecoming by Una

Displacement: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley

I've mostly been catching up on some comics this week, but I also finally finished my audio reread of Wheel of Time.

A Memory of Light ★★★★★ - (My Review)

Lumberjanes, Vol. 5: Band Together - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)
Lumberjanes, Vol. 6: Sink or Swim - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 6: Civil War II - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 7: Damage Per Second - ★★★☆☆ - (My Review)

reading a few Greg Cox books: the series that led to the underworld movies. I must look it up but it seems like the books were written after the movies as they follow the movie so closely. it is rare for a movie to follow a book this well.

Well I couldn't break Atticus' smug face as he is a fictional being, so instead I returned him to the library with his story unfinished in my head. Hounded was just not for me.

The Zero Stone I think was a beautiful setting with a boring character and only the barest thread of story. If you're looking for a sort of travelogue about distant galaxies though, I'd say this one is up there as one of the best.

The Devil You Know is some of the best urban fantasy I've read. It's not as "fun" as some of the others, like Sandman Slim, but it feels much more tangible and immediate. If you enjoy ghosts in your detective novel, and don't mind reading about horrendous crimes, check this one out.

Catch 22 is on hold until I get more time, hopefully which is devoid of nuclear games of chicken.

Now onto Fledgling. I'm not very far yet, but I really want to know what happens next! It's unfolding beautifully into a world that's deeply unsettling but yet relatable.

Allison wrote: "Well I couldn't break Atticus' smug face as he is a fictional being, so instead I returned him to the library with his story unfinished in my head. Hounded was just not for me.

[boo..."

I didn't care for Atticus either. For being a centuries old being he sure came across like an immature frat boy. That series was one and done for me.

I finished The Way of Kings, took me six days but I felt like I raced through it. I loved it! One of the few multi-POV books where I was actually interested in all of the POVs. I can't wait to read the second book.

Veronica wrote: "Allison wrote: "Well I couldn't break Atticus' smug face as he is a fictional being, so instead I returned him to the library with his story unfinished in my head. Hounded was just n..."

Seriously! That's how I described him, too.

Veronica wrote: "I finished The Way of Kings, took me six days but I felt like I raced through it. I loved it! One of the few multi-POV books where I was actually interested in all of the POVs. I can..."

I agree. For such a brick of a book, it flew for me. One of my favorites. I hope you like the second one, too!

I've read several books recently that I thought sucked for various reasons, this one I liked though so I hope it starts a new trend:

The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones

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

Finished Osama. Woah. My head feels all weird now, but in a good way :)

Now reading Augustus. It's written in the form of letters, diaries, etc which I love, plus it's got all the backstory to my favorite Masterpiece Theare series, I, Claudius (young Patrick Stewart, mmmmm...)

Michele wrote: "Now reading Augustus. It's written in the form of letters, diaries, etc which I love, "

If you like the epistolary style of stories, I highly recommend Word Puppets by Mary Robinette Kowal. A number of the stories in that collection are done in that style.

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

Just finished The Passage by Justin Cronin which was quite good but I don't think I need to read Book 2 and 3 in the series right now.

I think I am going to start with the first Val McDermid book, The Mermaids Singing.

loved all the tony hill books by val mcdermid but just started reading the alst one and couldn't get into it, maybe she has outdone that theme

Since my last post, I’ve finished:

1. The Library at Mount Char. I liked it ok, but wasn't crazy about it. I liked it more in the beginning when I still had lots of questions, and liked it less as it progressed. My review.

2. Of Mice and Men (my non-SF&F classic read for the 3rd quarter). I really enjoyed this. Somehow I managed to go through life not knowing much about this story or anything about how it ended, so I was a little traumatized. My review.

3. The Shadow of the Torturer. This is book 1 in Gene Wolfe’s “The Book of the New Sun” series. I enjoyed it, but maybe not as much as I would have if I could have sat and read it for more than a few minutes at a time. (Work kept interrupting, even during my “off hours”.) My review.

Now I’m reading The Claw of the Conciliator, book 2 in the same series. I’ve actually managed to get in some uninterrupted reading time, and I’m really enjoying it so far.

I read a new grimdark fantasy Blackwing by Ed McDonald. My review:

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

Currently reading Leviathan Wakes after getting hooked on The Expanse show. Enjoying it so far.

Reading the Traveler's Gate trilogy by Will Wight and loving it. Kick-ass fantasy with plenty of action and humour. My review for the first book House of Blades here:

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

Veronica wrote: "

Carro wrote: "Veronica wrote: "I finished The Rook and enjoyed it. It ..."

Just read it and yes, I did enjoy it and am waiting on the sequel.
There was a point a few chapters in where I struggled a little - for those who've not read it, there is a big learning curve at the beginning, both for the reader and for the main character. Its fun, but at one point it was a little too much. I kept going and enjoyed the rest of the book.

I have also read the other two books in the Bob trilogy and they were really great. For We Are Many and All These Worlds. I love the whole concept of the multiple Bobs and in essence how one person gets to do absolutely everything they ever wanted to do - or at least to try to do that. And yet they are not massive, slow books - all the threads are handled lightly.

Agreed I was pleasantly surprised by how readable and enjoyable the Bob trilogy was.

Read a SF short story collection by Robert Sheckley, The People Trap - and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2098516347.

Also read his novel, Immortality, Inc. and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2103407084.

Carro wrote: "Veronica wrote: "

Carro wrote: "Veronica wrote: "I finished The Rook and enjoyed it. It ..."

Just read it and yes, I did enjoy it and am waiting on the sequel.
There was a point ..."

Glad you liked it, Carro.

Faith wrote: "I read a new grimdark fantasy Blackwing by Ed McDonald. My review:

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

I keep hearing good things about this book.

Allison wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Allison wrote: "Well I couldn't break Atticus' smug face as he is a fictional being, so instead I returned him to the library with his story unfinished in my head.

It's true! I know someone who said that the series would be much better if Atticus wasn't the main focus and that eventually in the series you start rooting for his enemies to take him out.

As for me, I've finished books six, seven, and eight in the Alex Verus series: Veiled, Burned, and Bound.

Next up is The Obelisk Gate.

In August I read Ninefox Gambit (★★), Hunted (★★★★), Red Rising (★★★). Outside of F&SF, I read Caesar: Life of a Colossus (★★★★).

Man, Ninefox Gambit seems to be another polarizing book! I have it on my list, curious to see where I'll fall.

Veronica: So true! Except for him and the character I'm told becomes another prominent POV later on, all the other characters are way more interesting. I'm interested in getting back to Alex Verus though, that was a fun read. I hope you like Obelisk Gate! I'm on the waiting list for Stone Sky, can't wait.

Y'all, I want to be strong and not read the Oathbringer pre-release chapters. But also I want to consume the book as fast as possible when it releases, and I have large gaping holes in my willpower re: sneak previews.

It is a quandary.

My plan for Oathbreaker is to wait a few days before release and then burn through all the stuff posted on tor. We'll see if I can get the timing right so that I can jump right into the book when it comes out at the end of the stuff on the site..

I may read THE ROOK soon but I am generally not a fan of urban fantasy but I am intrigued it's being made into a TV series.

Rob wrote: "My plan for Oathbreaker is to wait a few days before release and then burn through all the stuff posted on tor. We'll see if I can get the timing right so that I can jump right into the book when i..."

This is probably a good strategy. But that's like...2ish months or more of knowing this is there and not reading it? I totally already read the first chapter of Peace Talks, and we don't even have a release date for that yet.

No, I...I can do this. I can.

Just finished reading The Stars my Destination. Now working on The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. Also reading the first ever issue of Galaxy magazine from 1950.

MadProfessah wrote: "I may read THE ROOK soon but I am generally not a fan of urban fantasy but I am intrigued it's being made into a TV series."

Spare yourself. I'm 1/3 into it right now and it's not very good. It's like X-Men meets Men In Black told through the family Christmas letters of someone you don't know.

I couldn't make it through The Rook either.