SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Ok, folks I just completed the first 5 books of the Kingfountain series by Jeff Wheeler and might I say the whole series is excellent. He does an excellent job at fleshing out the characters in his books. Which I like when an author takes the time to do that.

I'm currently reading "The Maids War" by Jeff Wheeler which is a prequel to the Kingfountain series which is just as good as the other 5 books in this series. Now there is one last book in the kingfountain series "The Forsaken Throne" which I've pre-ordered and looking forward to receiving.

I listened to The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.. I liked the second half of the book more than the first. Overall though a pretty solid book - ★★★½☆ - (My Review)

I also finished reading The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter, which I thought was OK, but not great ★★★☆☆ - (My Review)

I reread Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, which I do frequently, and it was as much of a treat as always.

Then I read Jesmyn Ward's new novel Sing, Unburied, Sing, and it was outrageously good -- a ghost story with one of the most memorable children characters I've ever encountered.

Then to The Stone Sky and I just adored everything about it. Now I want to go back and start the entire trilogy over again, there's so much I now I realize I was missing on a first read.

And, finally, I just finished Abaddon's Gate. The last quarter felt a bit too intentionally suspenseful to me (complete with one of the series' rare one-dimensional villains), but, otherwise, what a fun ride.

Recently finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Loved it. I had, just before this, watched Blade Runner and wanted to finally read the book that it came from. Well, "it came from" is a bit loose, but, the basic concept is there.

Ron wrote: "Recently finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Loved it. I had, just before this, watched Blade Runner and wanted to finally read the book that ..."

when I first heard about the movie i thought it was from this book

Blade Runner: A Movie

which is based on Alan Nourse's Blade Runner.

I finished Fool's Errand and started Golden Fool.

Also working on
The Medieval Cook
and
William Styron, The Collected Novels: Lie Down in Darkness, Set This House on Fire, The Confessions of Nat Turner, and Sophie's Choice
and
A Trick of the Light

I read multiple books at the same time and multiple genres, but try to only read one of each genre at the same time

I did give up on Pushing Ice. Where others saw strong women, I saw people acting completely irrationally. Finished The Last Wish which was fun but not great on any spectrum. No, that's not true. A+ for a gorgeous, brooding protagonist who apparently looks down so constantly that his looking up was noteworthy every. time.

Now reading The Bear and the Nightingale with the group! Enjoying it very much. I love books with fairy tale vibes, and it's nice to see so many old favorites woven into this story.

I gotta hurry up though, I also have The Golem and the Jinni and Equal Rites in the wings, and they're both books I need for challenges. So...feel free basically at any time to demand why I'm not reading. I have a lot of work to do.

Allison wrote: "Equal Rites in the wings"

Will this be your first Discworld read? If so, I look forward to your reaction. :)

Also, I’d like to ask in advance what you think you’re doing answering my question when you should be reading?!

YouKneeK wrote: "Allison wrote: "Equal Rites in the wings"

Will this be your first Discworld read? If so, I look forward to your reaction. :)

Also, I’d like to ask in advance what you think you’re doing answering..."

HAHA! Yes, thank you, timely reminder :) It will be! I decided to start with a storyline that seemed the most fun to me, rather than square off with the lot like you did. I'm just not that brave!

Allison wrote: "YouKneeK wrote: "Allison wrote: "Equal Rites in the wings"

Will this be your first Discworld read? If so, I look forward to your reaction. :)

Also, I’d like to ask in advance what you think you’r..."

Equal Rites is a good one. I'm generally a publication order person, but Color of Magic doesn't do the series justice imho. I'd say of the early books, that's a decent choice.

Allison wrote: "It will be! I decided to start with a storyline that seemed the most fun to me"

That storyline was my favorite over all, I think. I liked Equal Rites well enough, but I liked the subsequent Witches books much better.

YouKneeK wrote: "Allison wrote: "It will be! I decided to start with a storyline that seemed the most fun to me"

That storyline was my favorite over all, I think. I liked Equal Rites well enough, but I liked the s..."

Good to know! Hoping it does the trick for me, I feel like getting through all of Discworld is a huge nerd badge that I am very much lacking. I've got high hopes for this series!

Rob wrote: "Equal Rites is a good one. I'm generally a publication order person, but Color of Magic doesn't do the series justice imho. I'd say of the early books, that's a decent choice"

Thanks! I'd heard Equal Rites or Guards! Guards! were the most fun, but I agreed that it seemed best to start a little earlier than Guards! So here goes nothin'!

I'm only about 12 books into the series, but Guards! Guards! is my favorite so far.

Ron wrote: "Recently finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Loved it. I had, just before this, watched Blade Runner and wanted to finally read the book that ..."

With everyone talking about how great the book is, I might have to re-read it and give in another chance. I seem to recall being mightly underwhelmed.

I finished Malice and, after taking a brief foray into the historical mystery genre, will be starting Valor today.

Lately I've finished On Such a Full Sea, American Blonde, The Outliers and am currently reading Like One of The Family.

Dj wrote: "Ron wrote: "Recently finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Loved it. I had, just before this, watched Blade Runner and wanted to finally read th..."

This was my 2nd shot at it and I enjoyed it immensely. I seem to have that process for Philip K. Dick books. Although, I've tried A Scanner Darkly a few times and just can't make it. When I do read the entire book, I enjoy his writing. But, not so with Scanner. But, I'll eventally give it another try. But, probably not today.

Ron wrote: "Dj wrote: "Ron wrote: "Recently finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Loved it. I had, just before this, watched Blade Runner and wanted to fina..."

LOL, maybe it is a mind set thing. But I can certainly relate.

Here's how little I liked A Scanner Darkly: I gave it one star and prefer the movie. And I've got a t- shirt that reads "The book was better."

When the first Blade Runner came out, I think I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.

Eventually, I'll get around to The Man in the High Castle.

Julia wrote: "Here's how little I liked A Scanner Darkly: I gave it one star and prefer the movie. And I've got a t- shirt that reads "The book was better."

When the first Blade Runner came out, I ..."

I have one move that proves the exception to the rule. There is a book call Immortality Inc. It was made into a move, with Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger as the Main Characters and Anthony Hopkins and Renee Russo as supporting actors. The movie is called Freejack. And believe it or not the movie is better. Much, better. Go figure.

The rule of thumb is, "Good book, bad movie; bad book, good movie."

It holds up surprisingly well.

Princess Bride is bizarre to me in that I love both the book and the movie, but they do not tell the same story. The book is so much less hopeful and way more sarcastic.

So far the PKD story that was turned into a movie that I didn't think the movie was better was Paycheck. I think PKD had great ideas, but I'm just not a fan of how he writes I guess.

Going through The Core right now, it's been quite good so far and I'm enjoying the book it's taking a while though, and I'm starting to fear Oathbringer as I know that book will take me weeks to finish.

Trike wrote: "The rule of thumb is, "Good book, bad movie; bad book, good movie."

It holds up surprisingly well."

Lord of Rings books = bad, movies = good
Hobbit movies= bad, books=good

Sounds right to me.

Anyone else here a fan of The Caphenon?

Just finished The Brief History of the Dead. I loved the start of it, but by the end I was forcing myself to read.

Rereading The Martian for the 4th or 5th time and enjoying it just as much. I'm not a rereader, but this book hits exactly what I like to read, and I don't seem to get tired of it.

Shanna_redwind wrote: "Just finished The Brief History of the Dead. I loved the start of it, but by the end I was forcing myself to read.

Rereading The Martian for the 4th or 5th time and en..."

I love his comment when he finds out that everyone is watching what he types. It was just classic.

Hmmm I may need to read THE PRINCESS BRIDE then!

Finally starting The Girl with All the Gifts - I thought I was late for our group read.

I'm new to sci-fi/fantasy. I started off with a few books that were OK. Then someone on this site suggested Arcadia. I have never enjoyed a book as much as Arcadia. Everything from the writing to the plot to the characters. I bought a copy and had it sent to a good friend. If you haven't read Arcadia do so.

Norton wrote: "I'm new to sci-fi/fantasy. I started off with a few books that were OK. Then someone on this site suggested Arcadia. I have never enjoyed a book as much as Arcadia. Everything from the writing to t..."

Yay! Glad you liked it, Norton! Hopefully enjoying the writing style means you'll like other books by him. There's a lot of literary speculative fiction out there, too, that might appeal to you :)

MadProfessah wrote: "Hmmm I may need to read THE PRINCESS BRIDE then!"

I recommend it. It's a very interesting storytelling style. Let me know what you think if you get to it!

I've read waaay too many books in a row that I didn't love. Maybe Arcadia is available at my library/ system?

Currently reading: No Good Deed by Goldy Moldavsky.

Recently finished: Three Vanek Plays by Václav Havel, Like One of The Family by Alice Childress, The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight, American Blonde by Jennifer Niven, On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee.

And, yes, everyone should read The Princess Bride.

Dj wrote: "Shanna_redwind wrote: "Just finished The Brief History of the Dead. I loved the start of it, but by the end I was forcing myself to read.

Rereading The Martian for the..."

Yes, I think his smart alekness is one of the reasons I love the book so much

I finished Valor and may need a break with something more lighthearted before moving on to Ruin. Mr. Gwynne is certainly not shy about killing off characters.

Shanna_redwind wrote: "Dj wrote: "Shanna_redwind wrote: "Just finished The Brief History of the Dead. I loved the start of it, but by the end I was forcing myself to read.

Rereading [book:The Martian|180075..."

Yep, he certainly had an amazing outlook on things. And he would drop the most amazingly inappropriate things in and times that just left you rolling. Like his call out to John Glenn.

Erika wrote: "I'm actually listening to the Harry Potter series. I have never read the books or seen the movies"

Is this the audio version by Jim Dale? I hear excellent things about those,

Finished Three Men in a Boat, a real gem. Then read H is for Hawk (lovely), And Then There Were None (which I would have sworn I'd read before but apparently not). Currently working on Darconville’s Cat and The Summer Before the Dark.

Just finished The Green Brain. Maybe not quite to my taste. Started Gunmetal Magic

Kim wrote: "New year, new thread. What are you reading? Doesn't have to be group reads, or even sci-fi or fantasy. I'm currently reading Ilium because we talked about it in the nomination thread an..."

I have been delving into Patrick O'brian's Master and Commander series, recently, strictly out of pleasure. It seems however my fantasy slot is filled with books from friends/associates who requested reviews, though.

I'm reading Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines and loving it so far. Light, funny SF read.

I'm reading The Last Policeman by Winters. I'm about 3/4 thru, I'll finish it, but I'm finding it tough to stick with it. Having said that, the further I get into it the more interesting. It seems

Allison, thanks. I'll look into other Pear books.

Finished The Martian. Still my favourite book.

Finished some book called
Mosquitoes of Summer. It's very middle grade, and wasn't really all that interesting, unless you're looking for a book set in PEI.

Started Brave New World.

Norton wrote: "I'm new to sci-fi/fantasy. I started off with a few books that were OK. Then someone on this site suggested Arcadia. I have never enjoyed a book as much as Arcadia. Everything from the writing to t..."

I recommend Pears' other long novels as well, The Dream of Scipio and An Instance of the Fingerpost. He's done some short art-history-themed mysteries which I though were so-so (too formulaic), but the longer novels are terrific.

many years ago I read Laurell Hamilton's anita blake series . I loved the first few books but felt the story line got a bit carried away.

so this week I read the first book again. My grand daughter gave me the complete set as ebooks for a present. I love Laurell's way of presenting the story, I love how one sentence describes so much. Up to book 3 and still enjoying it. I forgot when it went off the rails will find out soon I suppose.

Kateb wrote: "many years ago I read Laurell Hamilton's anita blake series . I loved the first few books but felt the story line got a bit carried away.

so this week I read the first book again. My grand daughte..."

I loved when I first read it, she had one chapter that was all of one sentence. I thought that was classic. But like you I thought she got a little cared away. The first few books though, they were gold.

my grand daughter tells me there is only a few books where she is off the rails and then she gets back to serious stuff. so I continue onwards, on book 4 tonight

Kateb wrote: "my grand daughter tells me there is only a few books where she is off the rails and then she gets back to serious stuff. so I continue onwards, on book 4 tonight"

Let me know which ones to avoid and I might give them another shot as well.

The Anita Blake books are on my list to read! I'd also be curious to hear how far they go before they get weird.

Allison wrote: "The Anita Blake books are on my list to read! I'd also be curious to hear how far they go before they get weird."

Well in a sense they are weird from the start. Urban Fantasy and all that, but they get far to graphic and off tangent for me after a while and that is a game changer for me.

Dj wrote: "Allison wrote: "The Anita Blake books are on my list to read! I'd also be curious to hear how far they go before they get weird."

Well in a sense they are weird from the start. Urban Fantasy and a..."

Yeah, that's the weird I mean. I understood the premise ;-)