SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Ha! I've now had to set fire to a cat (German) and blown one up (French). I love and adore my four kitties so this is rather disturbing. At least I haven't actually pictured one of them when I do it.

Mike wrote: "I think there was a similar technique for verbs, putting a particularly distinct person in a scene to mark a verb tense or aspect..."

Yeah, all of the words that were conjugated the same way went under one image. I haven't tried that one yet.

Sarah Anne wrote: "Ha! I've now had to set fire to a cat (German) and blown one up (French). I love and adore my four kitties so this is rather disturbing. At least I haven't actually pictured one of them when I do it."

I've been in animal rescue for 36 years. I couldn't learn a language this way. I've seen things that still give me nightmares.

It, uh, doesn't have to be a real animal. It can be a drawing or even a stick figure...

Sarah Anne wrote: "It, uh, doesn't have to be a real animal. It can be a drawing or even a stick figure..."

But then you'll never get to conjure the full power of the demon that grants you the ability to speak in tongues natively.

Trike wrote: "I've been in animal rescue for 36 years. I couldn't learn a language this way. I've seen things that still give me nightmares. "

There are some nasty folks, sadly.

No need to be limited to the "textbook" examples if you want to add a dash of imagination... your feminine nouns could fly, your masculine nouns bike*, and your neuter nouns swim.

(*except no one looks good in those bike shorts…)

By the way, Trike - no animals were harmed in the text of Arcadia. I fully expect you to read it next month or face the consequences of my wrath.

Mike wrote: "(*except no one looks good in those bike shorts…) "

I have SPECTACULAR legs.

Sarah Anne wrote: "By the way, Trike - no animals were harmed in the text of Arcadia. I fully expect you to read it next month or face the consequences of my wrath."

Shriek. Oh no. Not that.

Finished reading Hyperion recently, which I absolutely loved! Here's my short review!
I'm currently reading The Fall of Hyperion.

I need to tell y'all about a bookstore find today. A 1965 boxed set of Lord of the Rings. It has a disclaimer in it initialed by Tolkien (not a real signature) acknowledging this as the fist USA issue. Just thought I would share.

Just finished An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock which is an awesome fantasy debut. Floating cities, science magic, french and spanish themed, just an all around fun book.

Next up is Magicians Impossible by Brad Abraham which looks like another fun one!

Francis wrote: "I need to tell y'all about a bookstore find today. A 1965 boxed set of Lord of the Rings. It has a disclaimer in it initialed by Tolkien (not a real signature) acknowledging this as the fist USA is..."

Sure, lord it over us.

Sarah Anne wrote: "The first language is the hardest because it teaches you that languages work differently from English. ..."

When I first started French it seemed impossible , after that Italian and Latin seemed a little easier. But after learning Hebrew as an young adult 'romance' languages seemed like child's play - for a start they all use the same alphabet!
Even now I will look at a page of writing and not be able to believe I can actually understand this weird blocky script.
And strangely although I still can't remember genders in French for the most part I remember in Hebrew.

mmm how we differ. I bought the lord of the rings back in the 70's , I recently gave the set away still in perfect condition , I just couldn't read them again.

As for language the only course I have ever received a pass in is a language, is it because English is a difficult one? Do learning something else was more difficult ? Is there any that are mathematically set up?

Finished Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers and added a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2106406012.

Michele wrote: "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 i..."

If you get a chance and are up to it, the Robert Graves books I, Claudius and Claudius the God are worthy reads. I found them easier going after watching the TV series (I could associate faces to names).

Finished Dead Things, a kind of noir-ish UF. It was pretty entertaining for a first-in-series book. Now I'm reading Words of Radiance - finished part one last night.

Tad wrote: "Just finished An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock which is an awesome fantasy debut. Floatin..."

No idea what a polymath princess is but it had me at musketeer. Adding it now. :-)

"Poor mans Fight" by Elliot Kay (a very under appreciated ) Space Opera with military tones is on sale at AUDIBLE. Lots of bang for your buck.

A polymath is "a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas."
Like da Vinci. Or Buckaroo Banzai.

Mike wrote: "A polymath is "a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas."
Like da Vinci. Or Buckaroo Banzai."

'Cuz I always link those two in my head, lol. But I get the gist, thanks. :-)

Just happy someone caught the reference!!!

I'm getting a start on September by reading Pushing Ice, and then I'll make the push to finish my TBR challenge.

Mike wrote: "Just happy someone caught the reference!!!"

I'm a child of the 80s. :-) And lo, a possible tv series in the making...
https://io9.gizmodo.com/kevin-smith-i... .

I'm about 2/5 into Tacitus' Complete Works (spoiler: Nero was nasty). Liking it more than my first reading a few years ago. Well, probably nearer a decade. Or two. To be honest, I'm not even sure who the Prime Minister was at the time. Or the monarch. Anyway, I'm enjoying it.

I'm also liking Angel's Truth by AJ Grimmelhaus, which I'm reading on the Kindle. Only a few chapters in, but it's intriguing fantasy so far.

Veronica wrote: "Mike wrote: "Just happy someone caught the reference!!!"

I'm a child of the 80s. :-) And lo, a possible tv series in the making...
https://io9.gizmodo.com/kevin-smith-i......"
SQUEE!

Bit of light relief - read Amaryllis by Jayne Castle and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2108837833.

Allison wrote: "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"

What book is this? Sounds compelling :)

Finished Augustus, which of course then forced me to re-read I, Claudius since that's (kind of) the sequel.

Now re-reading It so I will be ready to face the movie on opening night next week!

Michele wrote: "Allison wrote: "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"

What book is this? Sounds co..."

The third book in the Stormlight Archive series by Sanderson! Some of the best epic fantasy ive ever read.

Ah, ok. I was hoping against hope that it was the mythical third volume in the Kingkiller Chronicles from Patrick Rothfuss lol

Mike wrote: "Just happy someone caught the reference!!!"

BIG-BOO-TAY! TAY! TAY!

Michele wrote: "Ah, ok. I was hoping against hope that it was the mythical third volume in the Kingkiller Chronicles from Patrick Rothfuss lol"

That would also be great

Follow up to Amaryllis, Zinnia by Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz and posted a review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2108841765.

Veronica wrote: "Mike wrote: "Just happy someone caught the reference!!!"

I'm a child of the 80s. :-) And lo, a possible tv series in the making...
https://io9.gizmodo.com/kevin-smith-i......"

Actually, Smith bailed out of that once some lawsuits started being flung about. Pretty sure it's long since canceled.

Plugging away at:
- The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (re-read)
- Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
- Redshirts by John Scalzi
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
- Ringworld by Larry Niven
- Rama II by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee
- A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Trike wrote: "Actually, Smith bailed out of that once some lawsuits started being flung about. Pretty sure it's long since canceled."

Now we're never going to know what happened when BB went up against the World Crime League.

Randy wrote: "Trike wrote: "Actually, Smith bailed out of that once some lawsuits started being flung about. Pretty sure it's long since canceled."

Now we're never going to know what happened when BB went up against the World Crime League. "

I've always thought it would be great if at the beginning one of them turns to the other and goes, "Hey, remember the World Crime League?" And the other replies, "Oh, yeah. That was a long weekend."

Trike wrote: "Randy wrote: "Trike wrote: "Actually, Smith bailed out of that once some lawsuits started being flung about. Pretty sure it's long since canceled."

Now we're never going to know what happened when..."

Trike, I was all set to call you out as the damn dirty BBPP (Buckaroo Banzai party pooper) that you are. But you redeemed yourself --- "That was a long weekend!" BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!

Jan130 wrote: "Chris wrote: "Allison wrote: "What'd you think of Sabriel?"

I really liked it, especially the visual descriptions. Miyazaki should come out of retirement to make the film version."

I don't know, ..."

It seems that the author liked the Earthsea version that Studio Ghibli did much better than the live action version. Which I suppose goes to show that the author's vision may not be the same as the readers.

Trike wrote: "I've always thought it would be great if at the beginning one of them turns to the other and goes, "Hey, remember the World Crime League?" And the other replies, "Oh, yeah. That was a long weekend.""

This is why Goodreads needs a LIKE button.

I thought the animated version of Earthsea had the spirit of the books even if the plot wasn't exactly the same.

So let me start off by saying I don't read through one book at a time any longer. So while this does slow me down on my reading I tend to finish books in bulk lots. So here are the twenty odd books I am reading at the moment.

Pulse


The book has an interesting start, it reads a little bit like the Dies the Fire series, but I haven't been able to find out yet if the guns these US Marines are carrying work or not.

The Deer Prince's Murder: Book Two of 'Fantasy & Forensics'


This is the second book of a series I discovered by getting a Free Book off of Book Bub. Hope this as enjoyable as the first one was.



So this one starts out with an Alien Race leaving their knowledge for the next cycle of life to learn from. Which is a pretty Sci/Fi premise, but I think this is going to be more Action Adventure than that.



Well, I do live alone and have to eat. Besides I have found that cooking can be fun.



It claims to be a new look at the German Army. Will have to wait and see.



The Second book in a series written by the same author that wrote Howl's, Moving Castle. Not quite as good and slower moving but still interesting.




Ahmm, well I didn't read many kids books as a kid so I am going back and looking at some now.



Yep, just what it says it is. WWII from the perspective of the Russian People.



Supposedly a Mystery in an Urban Fantasy setting. I just thought the title was interesting and the book was free. So far it has held my attention so all good there.



Starting with the Rosetta Stone, so far this is a very interesting

book.

A boyfriend and a Witch's Familiar go looking for her when she goes missing. So far quite enjoyable.



Another WWII book, this time in the Pacific.




A very interesting look at various things. like did T. Jefferson have a Mental Illenss? Which if he did, it seems from his own writings it would have been a Bi-Polar one.



The Movers and Shakers of the US military during WWII.




An Epic, and it seems that it will take me another year or two to finish. Melvile must have been paid by the word.

There are a few others, but for the most part this is the ones I am most focused on at the moment.

Here are the most recent books I have read that fit the group. The first is a book I picked up for free, just out of curiosity and it turned out to be quite entertaining,



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



This second book is a much older book. A friend based a Shadowrun Character on the main character in the book, so I had been looking for it for some time. Found it at a used book Store on the coast here in Oregon.



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

I listened to Anansi Boys after it coming up at a recent book club meeting. - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

Rob wrote: "I listened to Anansi Boys after it coming up at a recent book club meeting. - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)"

I have tried to read that one a few times and have always put it aside for something else. Might have to finally knuckle down and give it a real go. Nice review.

Thanks

Since my last post, I finished up the rest of the books in Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun series. I had some complaints, but I liked it pretty well and consistently rated each book with 4 stars. There are quite a few little details revealed in later books that affect the interpretation of earlier books and that helped keep things interesting. Here are my reviews of all 5 books.
Book1
Book2
Book3
Book4
Book5

Now I’m reading Stranger in a Strange Land which, believe it or not, is my first time reading anything by Robert Heinlein.

Well, darn, to no Buckaroo Banzai tv show. :-/

I finished Words of Radiance - that's a lot of awesome right there. Now I'm reading Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Veronica wrote: "Well, darn, to no Buckaroo Banzai tv show. :-/"

At least the Galaxy Quest TV show is back on track...

https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/18/g...