SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I read Six Wakes and decided not to jump right into Artemis because the planet they are heading toward in Six Wakes is called Artemis. I like a little synchronicity when I read, but I wanted to keep these two separate in my mind.

I finished Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation which I've been re-reading for a couple of months now.

I breezed through A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy.. I like nonfiction, but I tend to skim most of it and just read the important points. Must not take too much time away from SFF!

Last night I read Transmetropolitan, Vol. 5: Lonely City, so enjoyable. And NO I'm not using graphic novels to pad my numbers so close to the end of the year!

...ok, maybe I am. Still so enjoyable. A couple of really endearing moments with everyone's favorite drug-addled journalist. Oh, Spider.

I'm currently reading Anansi Boys and Ancillary Mercy (yay I'll complete the trilogy this year).

Allison wrote: "Rob wrote: "I will say after Oathbringer, I need a break from reading. I don't normally read so much in such a short time."

Yeah, I think I might, too, except that I have three books giving me the..."

I have the December S&L book on hold. I'm doing it in text because:

Persepolis Rising
The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

are both out next week (on audio), so I wouldn't get to it on audio anytime soon.

Also, I'm doing The Fall of the Readers in hardcover which I think comes out next week as well. Although I bought that, so probably less of a rush to read it, but probably soon since it's the final book in that series.

Needless to say I won't have very long of a break. Maybe a few days at most.

Having 3 books out on the same day (12/5) is really annoying. Oh well better than having to wait I guess.

Jen wrote: "I read Six Wakes and decided not to jump right into Artemis because the planet they are heading toward in Six Wakes is called Artemis. I like a little synchronicity ..."

Ha! I was gonna say "Idk, Jen, I feel like you're totally taking an easy win here..." but I'm glad you liked it. I'm trying to keep an eye on the graphic novels that people seem to like so that in case I find out I *can* read them I have a list of stuff to check out :)

Small universe, all those Artemises.

Rob wrote: "Allison wrote: "Rob wrote: "I will say after Oathbringer, I need a break from reading. I don't normally read so much in such a short time."

Yeah, I think I might, too, except that I have three boo..."

Why do books gotta be like that?

Allison wrote: "Why do books gotta be like that?"

Yeah. Books aren't the only thing. TV shows all air on the same night/time and new Games all come out the same week, etc, etc.

Of course these days I buy very few Games and TV I tend to DVR and/or Binge such that it doesn't matter. But I can only listen to one book and read another at max..so 3 is 1 book too many!

I'm cleaning out half-finished books & long delayed reserves as the end of 2017 approaches!
Orlando -- been trying to complete this since March-ish!
The Book of Phoenix -- my off-again, off-again SF&F Bookshelf TBR.
Trust No One -- the4 exception; it was turkey-day travel-read audio with The Youngster
Purple Hibiscus -- my library's October Challenge, and the One Maryland, One Book 2017 read.
Magnificent Desolation… -- a book by a celeb, for my my library's November Challenge
Gulliver's Travels early fantasy (if you read it right!)
Trillion Year Spree: The History of Science Fiction -- my 2018 "theme", to catch all the 'classic' and 'great' SF&F that I have missed over the years!

New book, who dis?

I've finished The Picture of Dorian Gray as re-read (ebook in English now, I read it as print book in my native language in my school years).
Perfect read for the dark, gloomy November days I must say.

Michele wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Now I'm about to start The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay. Boy do I love this man's prose. "

Veronica, your first time reading it? Oh how I envy you!!!"

Yes, first time and loved it. It wasn't as polished as his later works but the man can still craft a sentence like few others. I'm starting the second book in the trilogy, The Wandering Fire, tonight. :-)

Jen wrote: "I read Six Wakes and decided not to jump right into Artemis because the planet they are heading toward in Six Wakes is called Artemis. I like a little synchronicity ..."

I usually don't read two similar books at the same time but I was reading both of these at once recently and found quite a few similarities that made keeping them separate in my mind a bit challenging. BTW: Six Wakes was the better of the two.

Yesterday I finished Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, Heather, the Totality by Matthew Weiner, Runaway Dreidel! by Lesléa Newman and Survivor Cafe: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory by Elizabeth Rosner.

I am currently reading Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks. But I need to read three more books on the sf-f shelf!

Of those, I recommend Bad Feminist and Survivor Cafe: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory, and the first four short stories of the Tom Hanks, because that's what I've read so far.

Julia wrote: "Yesterday I finished Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, Heather, the Totality by Matthew Weiner, Runaway Dreidel! by [author..."

That's a cool collection of things you're reading!! Good luck with your goal, you can do it!

I'm reading Flash-A Death Story. There is a lot of information to take in. 40% of the way through. Some interesting concepts.

I decided that I would "tidy" by book cupboard, we moved into a new house with my husband demanding my books be behind doors. As a OCD person he couldn't stand the odd heights. I want to buy some more books and the 2 metre long cupboard with a double row of books in the hallway just only fits about 800 books.

so a re read was in order. Quick skim I thought and get rid of those books that didn't hold my attention. Damm every one I re read I have settled in and enjoyed. Just finished all of A C Clarke, just couldnt handle throwing some of them, John Wyndham , great, Kate Elliott wow,

just about to start on L E Modessiti spellsong.

read CBJREciever about Stephanie plum, mmmm must re read them.

when do I get time for new books.

Finally finished my review of here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished by Jim Butcher and gave it 4 stars. My review is here.

Good overall, but lacked immersive power as the villains lacked substance.

My review of City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett
This has been a totally brilliant series!

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

I had my reading all planned out 'til the end of the year, but as usual with my plans they're subject to change at a whim.

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
and
Murder on the Orient Express

came at me suddenly. Both very fun, and pretty short.

I posted in another thread that I never read more than one book at a time, and contrary brain decided that that was exactly what it wanted to do, actually. So now I'm alternating chapters of

The Summer Before the War
and
Provenance

They aren't mish-mashing as much as I feared, though I'm finding odd similarities between these outwardly very different books. Like a female main character pursuing a last chance of success or survival. And a hairpin or hairpins being mentioned.

I bumped my GR goal from 25 down to 20 because I had a huge slump mid-year, but it looks like I'll be making 25 after all and changed the goal back to fit. After the two books above, there will be just one left. :)

Beth wrote: "I had my reading all planned out 'til the end of the year, but as usual with my plans they're subject to change at a whim.

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
and
[book:Murder on..."

Nice!!

I recently read The Girl in the Maze, Wonderland, Monster Hunter Nemesis, and Gerald's Game.

Now I'm reading The Fireman.

Beth wrote: "I had my reading all planned out 'til the end of the year, but as usual with my plans they're subject to change at a whim.

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
and
[book:Murder on..."

Well normally it would be from the sublime to the ridiculous, but in this case I think it went in reverse.

Trike wrote: "Anna wrote: "Anyway, Frankenstein's book monster is so much better than the movie monster, more interesting and terrifying in a different way, which to me is more effective, since I find the standa..."

ETA - I originally said the 1970s but changed it. Turns out there's a miniseries from 1973 called "Frankenstein: The True Story"

Interesting because in the UK that was a film, not a miniseries starring David McCallum. Also had Tom Baker in a cameo as the sea captain.

Read a couple of supernatural tales, The Pet by Charles L Grant - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2198127903 and The Fetch by Robert Holdstock - review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2198127903.

City of Ashes

Ugh....I waited a day. I checked all the shadows around town for demons, Lol. Went to a camping store and checked out the cutlery and wander would any of these beauties damage a demon? I looked at several books where you have to relax your eyes to see hidden pictures, kinda like Clary does to see the hidden world all around her. Of course Jace would tell Clary that, " it's always been there, your just changing." Which of course I became to anxious and had to find out what book #2 - City of Ashes - by Cassandra Clare
(view spoiler)[[stuff][spoiler]>
Oh I have questions, will Jace and Clary finally hook up? Will Clary develop more demon killing skills? Will Simon and Isabelle hook up? what new skills and runes will Clary discoverer. Will her Mom wake up? And so many more question? (view spoiler)[[stuff][spoiler ]> (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Curtis wrote: "(( Spoilers))
City of Ashes
Ugh....I waited a day. I checked all the shadows around town for demons, Lol. Went to a camping store and checked out the cutlery and wander would any of..."

Curtis, if you type < spoiler> [stuff] < /[spoiler]> without the brackets or spaces, it hides the spoilers for you. If you can edit your post, would you mind doing that? I want you to get answers but right now I can't read your post for fear I'll spoil something!

And it also hides the entire paragraph I wrote, bummer

you can experiment with where to put them so its not all hidden!

Is there a spoiler basic 101?
Like if you put it at the beginning of your paragraph, it will erase it. At least it seems to be erased, when I try to view it with my windows phone

Curtis wrote: "Is there a spoiler basic 101?
Like if you put it at the beginning of your paragraph, it will erase it. At least it seems to be erased, when I try to view it with my windows phone"

That's a problem with the app - it just removes the spoilers entirely. If you check on your browser you'll see a link that let people then see what you wrote.

Ahhh...figures.

My review of The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson

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

I've watched The Dark Tower movie which I liked very much, and started reading the books. Currently I'm reading third in series and still I don't have any idea what the tower actually is or what's complete history of the characters... kinda makes you read faster but it's frustrating at the same time because there are gaps in story you can cross only if you read more and more, seems like it's never-ending tale :)
Hope that series in complete makes sense, even if the revelation comes with the last book :)

Curtis wrote: "Ahhh...figures."

Yes, sorry. I don't know why the app hasn't caught up yet. But anything between the spoiler brackets will be kept behind the spoiler tag. So, like, in your original post, if you moved the first part of the spoiler html to after the "lol" we'd see that first sentence and have to click for more. I promise it's still there!

Well. I've finished Oathbringer. I thought this book was better than Words of Radiance, but not quite as stellar as Way of Kings. In any case, better or worse, these are still some of the finest books I've ever read. If you like epic fantasy, I really can't recommend them enough, despite their literal and figurative heft.

I've moved on (only a month late!) to American Gods and have started Red Sister. Trying to finish up the last books on my challenge for the year while letting myself get shamelessly distracted by all the pretty things, like Red Sister and a re-re-re-re...read of Once And Future King.

Allison wrote: "Well. I've finished Oathbringer. I thought this book was better than Words of Radiance, but not quite as stellar as Way of Kings. In any case, better or worse, these are still some ..."

WoK is still my favorite so far, too.

Reading The Martian Chronicles I must say while overall i'm having a good time it is the first Bradbury book that has not completely sucked me into its world. (yet)

I feel like the themes and underbelly of the book for whatever reason are not clicking with me. Some of the shorts it is clear what they are trying to say while others I struggle to find meaning in them. Luckily at least they are all interesting enough to keep going

Ooh The Martian Chronicles is one of my favorites. I reread it earlier this year. my review:

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

I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reached my goal of 20 books in just a bout a month.

John wrote: "I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reached my goal of 20 books in just a bout a month."

Congrats, John! I thought you were gonna wait to start with Alanna! But I'm jealous, I can't wait to have time to read this one. Maybe I'll get distracted again early next year :)

Allison wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reached my goal of 20 books in just a bout a month."

Congrats..."

Well I could hold off on that one and start on one of the others. I'm barely 8% into it. After all it's not like I don't have others for which I could be reading as well. I didn't know that Alanna wanted to read it as well. Alanna where you hiding? I want to know if were buddy reading Trickster's Choice together? If we are and your not ready I'll read something else.

I might set 2018's goal for 45 or 50 since I'll be starting it at the beginning of the year and not the end of the year at this time. I was surprised that I was able to get 20 books under my belt in about a months time.

John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reached my goal of 20 books in just a bout a m..."

No, no, the Song of the Lioness series that is the "first" in the Tortall world. Not an issue, I'm sure they work fine on their own :)

Allison wrote: "John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reached my goal of 20 books in ju..."

Now you've got me confused here are you saying I should start with the Lioness Series before I read the Trickster's Choice?

John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reached my goal o..."

It's just what we'd talked about last week or so, I was mostly teasing you. Like I said then, I don't think it's necessary so much as maybe more complete. But I don't know, having not read Trickster yet!

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

Allison wrote: "John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reac..."

This conversation is making me want to go back and reread these books. They were some of my favorites growing up! If you want a buddy not named Alanna, John, let me know! :P

Allison wrote: "John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "Allison wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading Trickster's Choice Which is 1st of a two book read. Once this is finished I'll have reac..."

Maybe I'll have to look into more of the other one for which you are talking about and see what I can find out. Thanks again for the heads up

I’ll read Alanna: The First Adventure with y’all too! I actually just ordered a copy the other day! I should get it this weekend.

Ashley wrote: "I’ll read Alanna: The First Adventure with y’all too! I actually just ordered a copy the other day! I should get it this weekend."

...welp. I'm sufficiently distracted again. I'll try to jump in, too!

Ashley wrote: "I’ll read Alanna: The First Adventure with y’all too! I actually just ordered a copy the other day! I should get it this weekend."

Weird: there's eight people on hold for the first book at my library! That's feels like a lot... in any case I shouldn't start any more books this week, so I'll catch up when I get them. - usually the hold list moves pretty quickly. I've read them before so spoilers aren't an issue :) Looking forward to this!

i've finished Eye of the world (Wheel of time#1) and yes As i promised myself I continue in the historiographic master piece

Pascal wrote: "i've finished Eye of the world (Wheel of time#1) and yes As i promised myself I continue in the historiographic master piece"

Best of luck with that. I keep thinking I should start it over again so I can go through it start to finish, but something shiny always comes up along the way.