SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

CBRetriever wrote: "I paid $44.99 for it when it was first released and it was worth it for 15 books and works out to $3 per book

The Complete Wheel of Time"

Wow, that ain't bad. I hope everyone contemplating it enjoys the books! I haven't tried this series at all--I'm also daunted by it. I committed myself to reading Malazan as my next epic fantasy adventure, but if I survive that, I might give WOT a go after.

Also, I was wondering why everyone was reading Dawn, I didn't realize it was part of a bundle, but that makes sense!

Read number 6 in the Jayne Castle Ghost Hunter/Harmony series - Obsidian Prey - and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2169952866.

Also, a rare DNF for me - The Book of Kells by R A MacAvoy - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/941468.The_Book_of_Kells.

a rare DNF for me - The Book of Kells by R A MacAvoy - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/941468.The_Book_of_Kells.

Thomas wrote: "The Wheel of Time is one of my favourite fantasy series. I'm currently reading book 10 of this right now! I look forward to your reviews :)"

Thanks! I’m glad you’re still enjoying it so much at book 10. I always hear horror stories about the middle-ish slog. :) I can usually handle a bit of slogging, though.

Allison wrote: "I'm also daunted by it. I committed myself to reading Malazan as my next epic fantasy adventure, but if I survive that, I might give WOT a go after.”

Ha, I’m more daunted by Malazan than WOT. At least WOT is pretty definitely complete. It seems like the authors keep adding more and more to the Malazan books every time I check the series page. I’d like to read it someday, though.

I’m happy to see people reading Dawn. I liked that and its sequels quite a bit.

I have yet to read the 10th Malazan book (purchased back in 2012) or the 10th Thomas Covenant book (purchased in 2014). I can't seem to make myself do it. I also have the complete Outlander Series (I bought it when it was $1.99 for a few hours) and haven't started it yet.

I did make it through the Delphi Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Andrew Land and L. Frank Baum series as well as the Complete Morgaine by Cherryh and a few other collected works. The UK publishers put out some excellent bundles especially Gollancz and those are what I miss buying since I've moved back to the US.

Catching up on reviews from the last few weeks:

I listened to:

Empire's End - ★★★☆☆ - (My Review)
Whispers Underground - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)
Raven Stratagem - ★★★½☆ - (My Review)

I also read:

The Book of Swords - ★★★½☆ - (My Review)
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

Allison wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "I paid $44.99 for it when it was first released and it was worth it for 15 books and works out to $3 per book

The Complete Wheel of Time"

Wow, that ain't bad. ..."


Will have to admit it's not bad but how many pages are they each about 100 or so?

Finally caught up with my reviews and now I will share the links for them:


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


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


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


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

John wrote: "Allison wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "I paid $44.99 for it when it was first released and it was worth it for 15 books and works out to $3 per book

The Complete Wheel of Time"

Wow, ..."

The Eye of the World, which is listed as Book one of the series is listed at 845 as a trade paperback, so close to a thousand pages a book.

John wrote: "Will have to admit it's not bad but how many pages are they each about 100 or so?"

The Wheel of Time is not a short series. If you do the math using the info provided in this conversation, 12,592 pages in the omnibus / 15 books included = 839 pages, on average, per book.

YouKneeK wrote: "John wrote: "Will have to admit it's not bad but how many pages are they each about 100 or so?"

The Wheel of Time is not a short series. If you do the math using the info provided in this conversa..."

Well, now I'll have to admit that it is a great deal for the amount of reading that you get. The only thing is there is no real Blurb that lets you know whats inside. Is it Fantasy I.e magic, dragons etc or is it Sci-Fi with spaceships and various planets and such?

John wrote: "YouKneeK wrote: "John wrote: "Will have to admit it's not bad but how many pages are they each about 100 or so?"

The Wheel of Time is not a short series. If you do the math using the info provided..."

The Wheel of Time is a famous fantasy series! It's considered one of the great epics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Whe...

YouKneeK wrote: "The Nantucket trilogy, starting with Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling."

That was the first, and last, time we tried to have a trilogy 3 months in a row. I think almost no one even started book 3. S.M. Stirling has good ideas, poor execution.

YouKneeK wrote: "Now I’m starting (for the second time) the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan."

Good luck. I couldn't make it past book 9. I don't think I'll ever finish it.

Tom wrote: "I just finished A Plague of Giants, the first book in a new trilogy by Kevin Hearne."

Thanks for the heads-up. Time to add that to my list.

I'm currently reading Battle Hill Bolero by Daniel José Older.

Otherwise last week I've read Wishtree by Katherine Applegate,
Alias, Vol. 1 by Brian Michael Bendis,
Midnight Taxi Tango by Daniel José Older,
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
and Yvain: The Knight of the Lion by M.T. Anderson.

I've finally started trying to finish my TBR challenge. I'm halfway through London Falling. It's the second time I've attempted this book. The first time I barely got a few pages in before stopping. Just wasn't the right book at the time.

And for a bit of non-scifi/fantasy I'm also reading The High Window. I think I was inspired by this months heist and murder mysteries to read a bit of pulp noir.

Julia wrote: "I'm currently reading Battle Hill Bolero by Daniel José Older.

Otherwise last week I've read Wishtree by Katherine Applegate,
[bo..."

Which Daniel Jose Older book would you recommend starting with? He's on my short list for next year.

CBRetriever wrote: "I paid $44.99 for it when it was first released and it was worth it for 15 books and works out to $3 per book

The Complete Wheel of Time"

Over about a year and a half I collected a complete set of nearly new hardbacks from the 1$ Book Store. Takes up a ton of space on one of my bookshelfs and looks very intimidating :)

John wrote: "YouKneeK wrote: "John wrote: "Will have to admit it's not bad but how many pages are they each about 100 or so?"

The Wheel of Time is not a short series. If you do the math using the info provided..."

It's Fantasy and not in the least bit Sci-Fi. i understand it's been optioned for a TV Series as it might be the next Game of Thones

AndrewP wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "I paid $44.99 for it when it was first released and it was worth it for 15 books and works out to $3 per book

The Complete Wheel of Time"

Over about a year and..."

For taking up wall space, I have always liked the story that was told of Colin Powell, which may or may not be true. He had some space in his office and told someone to find some books to put there to fill the space. This being about five feet or so of wall space, they came back with one series of books. The Official US History of World War II. It then acquired the nickname, of the Big Green Wall.

I have the whole series, but it isn't taking up that much space in my house, due to it being on PDF. I kept only one of the originals, and they are comprehensive. Not as much fun to read as Wheel of Time though.

CBRetriever wrote: "John wrote: "YouKneeK wrote: "John wrote: "Will have to admit it's not bad but how many pages are they each about 100 or so?"

The Wheel of Time is not a short series. If you do the math using the ..."

As I'm starting to see that it's not, to be honest with you there. I've got it on my wishlist and hopefully, I can purchase it soon.

Dj wrote: "AndrewP wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "I paid $44.99 for it when it was first released and it was worth it for 15 books and works out to $3 per book

The Complete Wheel of Time"

Over ..."

Five linear feet of book o.O

I thought our treatises were bad...

Allison asked: "Which Daniel Jose Older book would you recommend starting with? He's on my short list for next year. "

Shadowshaper or Half-Resurrection Blues are the series I've read (so far) by Daniel José Older.

Kim wrote: "That was the first, and last, time we tried to have a trilogy 3 months in a row. I think almost no one even started book 3. S.M. Stirling has good ideas, poor execution."

I can understand why people dropped out by book 3. I was a little tempted myself!

I like the way sequel avoidance is part of this group’s normal nomination process. I think it works better that way, both for shelf diversity and discussion participation.

YouKneeK wrote: "Kim wrote: "That was the first, and last, time we tried to have a trilogy 3 months in a row. I think almost no one even started book 3. S.M. Stirling has good ideas, poor execution."

I can underst..."

I read all three books and found them entertaining. Better than the more drawn out Dies the Fire Series. It is fairly easy to tell by the ending of book three that he did intend to take it farther but doesn't seem to be on the to-do list.

While I enjoy most of the books I have read by Stirling, I do tend to agree with Kim, his ideas are better than his execution especially over the long haul of a series. Best book I have read by his is still, 'ConquistadorConquistador.' Which is more modern, alternate reality, alternate dimension type read.

And it has the bonus of being a stand alone.

I really wanted to like more of his books. Alternate history/time travel is one of my favorite genres as an idea but I haven't found many great. *Cut rest of post, see Recommendation thread*

I just started reading Artemis. I'm really looking forward to this.

Tom wrote: "I just started reading Artemis. I'm really looking forward to this."

Still a week away from full release.

Kim wrote: "Tom wrote: "I just started reading Artemis. I'm really looking forward to this."

Still a week away from full release."

I'm hoping to put a good dent in it before then.

Re-read Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1444115513.

These will probably take me 'til the end of the year to finish, especially with holiday prep coming up. All started, to one degree or another:

Provenance - one chapter
Illusion - p. 225
The Summer Before the War - two chapters

and two or three novellas for in-between.

Still going full steam ahead (I had to take the week off to use up vacation before the end of the year) and finished:

Dawn which was good but doesn't inspire me to get the rest of the books in the series (it was part of a Humble Bundle)
and
The Very Best of Charles de Lint which i thoroughly enjoyed
and Mark Pryor's The Crypt Thief, The Blood Promise, The Button Man, The Reluctant Matador and The Paris Librarian which were quick, fast, entertaining reads and now i have to wait for the next book in the series to drop in price

started:
The Genome which I am thoroughly enjoying even though I'm not a huge ships and enhanced humans SciFi enthusiast
and
Below the Surface - I quite like this mystery series published by AmazonCrossing which is now the number 1 publisher of translated into English books.

Ready Player One - just finished, really enjoyed it - more than I expected as I am not a video game player.
(And looking it up on line - blinking heck - so it was the author's first published book, it wins prizes, it is being made into a movie by Steven Spielberg that is due out in 2018. Wow. Talk about every writer's dream.)

70th book read this year and 420 books rated with Six of Crows. I feel like I should read a book set in Colorado or Amsterdam to celebrate! ;-)

...Do you ever write something and go "God, now everyone knows you're a total dork?" Welp.

Allison wrote:"...Do you ever write something and go "God, now everyone knows you're a total dork?" Welp."

Now?

Allison wrote: " I feel like I should read a book set in Colorado or Amsterdam to celebrate! ;-) .."

My curiosity has been peaked. Why Colorado?

Tom wrote: "Allison wrote: " I feel like I should read a book set in Colorado or Amsterdam to celebrate! ;-) .."

My curiosity has been peaked. Why Colorado?"

It was a drug reference, marred by my desire to read books not about drugs but about places associated with marijuana. I don't think I'm doing stoner culture right.

Even more, now, Hank ;-)

Allison wrote: "Tom wrote: "Allison wrote: " I feel like I should read a book set in Colorado or Amsterdam to celebrate! ;-) .."

My curiosity has been peaked. Why Colorado?"

It was a drug reference, marred by my..."

you could also try Seattle or Portland ...

Carro wrote: "Ready Player One - just finished, really enjoyed it - more than I expected as I am not a video game player.
(And looking it up on line - blinking heck - so it was the author's first..."

To bad the follow up isn't getting as much love.

CBRetriever wrote: "Allison wrote: "Tom wrote: "Allison wrote: " I feel like I should read a book set in Colorado or Amsterdam to celebrate! ;-) .."

My curiosity has been peaked. Why Colorado?"

It was a drug referen..."

The Henry and Beezus books are set in Portland, not very topical to the group though, I have been told that Klicatat street that they live on is really a street here, but I have never been on it.

CBRetriever wrote: "Allison wrote: "Tom wrote: "Allison wrote: " I feel like I should read a book set in Colorado or Amsterdam to celebrate! ;-) .."

My curiosity has been peaked. Why Colorado?"

It was a drug referen..."

Oh, good point! Extremely helpful haha

"Allison wrote: The Henry and Beezus books are set in Portland, not very topical to the group though, I have been told that Klicatat street that they live on is really a street here, but I have never been on it. "

maybe I'll find out in December when I vacation there. It's a pre-retirement trip to see if the winters will be OK for us. I loved Portland in May, but will I love it in December?

And to keep on topic, I finished Below the Surface - I quite like this mystery series published by AmazonCrossing which is now the number 1 publisher of translated into English books. it's set in Finland.

CBRetriever wrote: ""Allison wrote: The Henry and Beezus books are set in Portland, not very topical to the group though, I have been told that Klicatat street that they live on is really a street here, but I have nev..."

Rainy, kind of cold and generally overcast. I like it, but that is because I grew up in Iowa and in general it only snows here once every ten years. So no shoveling.

Of course Portland does have the upside of Powell's City of Books, which is a new and used book store that takes up an entire city block.

CBRetriever wrote: ""Allison wrote: The Henry and Beezus books are set in Portland, not very topical to the group though, I have been told that Klicatat street that they live on is really a street here, but I have nev..."

Happy trip! Hope it works out for you. Below the Surface looks intense!

Dj wrote: "Carro wrote: "Ready Player One - just finished, really enjoyed it - more than I expected as I am not a video game player.

Too bad the follow up isn't getting as much love.."

The follow-up didn't deserve the love, sad to say.

I visited Powell's in May and it was awesome. I bought a cookbook which is one of the few book types I still buy in paper editions

Also, I've lived in Paris which has almost exactly the same weather as Portland and loved it. Oddly enough, the exact same art exhibit I saw in Paris is in Portland right now, so I'll go see it again:

https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibit...

And there's even a book connection as the first Wyeth was a book illustrator:

Treasure Island is probably his best work

Dj wrote: "Rainy, kind of cold and generally overcast. I like it, but that is because I grew up in Iowa and in general it only snows here once every ten years. So no shoveling. "

Last year was pretty bad down there. Lots of snow. This year is forecast to be similar. It gets worse winters than Seattle due to being on the Columbia.

Due to my alt history/time travel thread I've started on Fire Watch. I thought I'd already read it.

Kim wrote: "Dj wrote: "Rainy, kind of cold and generally overcast. I like it, but that is because I grew up in Iowa and in general it only snows here once every ten years. So no shoveling. "

Last year was pre..."


The 'Dies the Fire' series is set...mostly in the Oregon area in and around Portland.

Dj wrote: "The 'Dies the Fire' series is set...mostly in the Oregon area in and around Portland"

So is The Postman. Apparently central Oregon is prime post-apocalypse real estate.

Kim wrote: "Dj wrote: "The 'Dies the Fire' series is set...mostly in the Oregon area in and around Portland"

So is The Postman. Apparently central Oregon is prime post-apocalypse real estate."

"Dear Future Allison, Keep your freaky EMP powers out of Oregon. Also, possibly consider Oregon if your freaky EMP powers start acting up."

(I ruin electronics. I don't know how it happens or why, me, God, but it's as puzzling as it is expensive.)

I associate Oregon with Seanan McGuire, because I think she lives there? Either way, and also in conjunction with the apocalyptic references, it makes me want to read Feed.

Ursula Le Guin lives in Portland too