SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Pascal wrote: "I submerged my self in history tryin to read the I Kershaw biography (wich i started several times) from Hitler This time i will try to end both 800+ Pages volumes Which me luck"

Luck!

Pascal wrote: "I submerged my self in history tryin to read the I Kershaw biography (wich i started several times) from Hitler This time i will try to end both 800+ Pages volumes Which me luck"

Best of luck. I haven't even thought of starting either of them at this point. They are a bit of a bear.

just finished "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I liked it a lot. A very solid "hard scifi" novel well worth the effort..

Don wrote: "just finished "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I liked it a lot. A very solid "hard scifi" novel well worth the effort.."

I am again full of wist. Why is it spiders? I want to enjoy this book, too.

I kicked both The Wanderer by Fritz Leiber and Rama II by Gentry Lee due to excessive awfulness.

didn't warm up to the spiders either Allison, strangely it is one of the components that makes the aliens feels alien.

City of Glass

Finally getting to The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke. This is a reread I've been trying to do for the last couple of years. First scifi book I can remember loving as a kid in junior high. So far a little bit of a slow start but Clarke is drawing me in...

Bummer, Randy! Don, I've heard that Children of Time is very good at making something at once alien and familiar.

I hope it's still magical for you, Monica!

I just finished American Gods and liked it! But I think I prefer Neil Gaiman in the visual medium. The myth parts were really cool, I just thought all the exciting stuff was everywhere except where the story was.

Starting Who Fears Death. Anyone who's read it want to give me a (view spoiler)[reference point for when the rape scene is coming? (hide spoiler)] I think I'm done with that topic for the year, but I'll soldier on if no one has a strong recollection.

Why do so many books have the word "City" in the title recently?

Allison wrote: "Don wrote: "just finished "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I liked it a lot. A very solid "hard scifi" novel well worth the effort.."

I am again full of wist. Why is it spiders? I want to enjoy this book, too."

Not to pile on Allison, but Children of Time is definitely my favorite Scifi/fantasy read this year and one of my favorite books this year overall (not that this is a poll of tremendous depth). Don has a point about thinking of the spiders as more alien...

Allison, re: Who Fears Death, (view spoiler)[it's mentioned many times, but the actual scene is in chapter three. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Allison, re: Who Fears Death, [spoilers removed]"

<3 <3 thanks so much, Anna! That's extremely helpful.

sigh, Monica, I want to read it soooo badly. I'm actually thinking of enrolling in one of those "pet a tarantula" workshops so that I get over it enough to read this freakin' book!

I haven't accomplished much reading in 2017, something I hope to remedy in the new year, but did want to stop in and drop a few good words for Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That'll Improve and/or Ruin Everything By Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. This is an accessible, fun to read look at future technologies, explained in ways the layperson can understand. I'm enjoying it immensely.

Allison wrote: "sigh, Monica, I want to read it soooo badly. I'm actually thinking of enrolling in one of those "pet a tarantula" workshops so that I get over it enough to read this freakin' book!.."

The class might work.
I have a similar phobia about snakes. One night, several years ago, I was watching TV on my own when I realised a snake was slithering along the track of our window - on the inside!
I am normally very calm in a crisis but this event saw me crying hysterically and begging my husband to 'do something' . When he said he would get the snake catcher in the morning and I realised he intended to leave me and the children alone in the house with the snake I screamed so hysterically he practically leapt out of bed!
6am saw me knocking on my parents' door unwilling to return home until it was snake-free.
But despite the total, and atypical, hysteria I encountered a snake and survived so now, although I still dislike them intensely, they scare me less.

Alison, may I recommend (post tarantula-petting) the Philip K. Dick short story Expendable?

True confession: I've been reading The Wise Man's Fear since August. I don't know what's wrong with me! I love the novel! Reading it genuinely brings me joy. Maybe it's because it's been a long time since I've read such a long book? Maybe it's because I don't read as often as I did when I was in school? Maybe it's because I've been more into audiobooks?Whatever the reasoning is, I am determined to finish it by the new year.

I've also started listening to Age of Myth on Audible. It hasn't hooked me yet, but I love Michael J. Sullivan so I imagine it will sooner rather than later.

Oh boy, Esther! I'm fine with snakes but one in my room isn't any good. He couldn't throw it outside?? The problem with immersion therapy is that to get help you have to go to a place you know contains big MFin spiders and really if I could will myself to do that, I think I'd be half cured.

Peggy, that sounds really cool!

Thank you for your faith in me, Mike! I'll keep that on the list for reasons to go face my fear.

Jenny, it's a big freakin' book. I don't blame you for taking your time. I hope Age of Myth picks up for you!

I got through the first 4 chapters of Who Fears Death. In classic "be careful what you wish for" fashion, I find it hilarious that I was very well informed of the events of chapter three...and completely blindsided by chapter 4. Gripping if terrifying story so far!

Re: spiders and snakes - I have the same problem with human beings.

“Shriek! Why are you in my house?! I don’t care that you’re my mother!”

Allison wrote: "The problem with immersion therapy is that to get help you have to go to a place you know contains big MFin spiders and really if I could will myself to do that, I think I'd be half cured. ..."

I have done exposure therapy for another phobia (and continue to do so every damn day) but there is no way in hell I would do that with spiders.

Allison wrote: "I find it hilarious that I was very well informed of the events of chapter three...and completely blindsided by chapter 4.t..."

What happened in Chapter 4?

On a totally off topic side note I just ordered some awesome Christmas socks.

Do those count as what I'm reading? Even if they don't have words? They're like picture books :) Santa gnomes, yetis in sweaters, jingle cats....

Sarah Anne wrote: "On a totally off topic side note I just ordered some awesome Christmas socks.

Do those count as what I'm reading? Even if they don't have words? They're like picture books :) Santa gnomes, yetis ..."

Counted. Get them an ISBN and check it off the list. Then I'm counting these carpentry plans I'm "reading" too!

My own non-sequitur, I was told the girl I am shopping for in our work adopt-a-family likes unicorns. They didn't give me an age, so I figured I'd get a toy and a book and let her sort out how she likes to consume unicorns. (Not like Quirrel consume...you know what I mean.) So I went looking for a book I'd liked as a kid.

...It's been out of print for almost 20 years. So there, Monica, that was my cosmic payback for my joke about classics in another thread.

Re: Who Fears Death (view spoiler)[just that little female genital mutilation scene. It was just sort of funny that I'd geared myself up for a rape scene, got through that and found myself in an unexpected new horror. (hide spoiler)]

Hello, very happy to join this book group. Currently, I am about to begin '1984' by George Orwell. I don't know what happens but know it is a very influential book. Looking forward to seeing what my impressions of the novel are. :)

Noah wrote: "Hello, very happy to join this book group. Currently, I am about to begin '1984' by George Orwell. I don't know what happens but know it is a very influential book. Looking forward to seeing what m..."

Welcome, Noah! That was a tough one for me. I hope you like it! Definitely come share your thoughts. We're re-reading a lot of classic dystopias next year, maybe it'd be interesting to compare them to 1984!

Unicorn Christmas Socks

I forgot about that scene. It's been several years since I read it.

Noah, I hope you enjoy that one. I really like it.

I am past the halfway point in Persepolis Rising . The new two POVs took some time to get used to, but this book keeps getting better. I think I will be taking my time to savor it.

For those who haven't seen it, next month's books will be Touch (My choice) and Ninefox Gambit (Nurf Hurder's choice).

Re: Who Fears Death

(view spoiler)[The genital mutilation was so much harder to read than the rape scene, which was already very difficult. I didn't know it was coming, whereas the rape was mentioned right at the beginning of the book, so at least I knew to expect some mention of it. Although not in so much detail. This is one of very few books which contain such graphic violence that I've given five stars to. It feels wrong to say I 'enjoyed' reading it, but it's on my favorites list and I want to re-read it very soon. (hide spoiler)]

Give'em Hell Trike !

I'm finally reading Karen Memory and Arcadia. Unfortunately Arcadia is probably going to take me all month, since I want to read it with my eyes (I can't explain why, I just have a strong feeling I don't want to listen to it) and my eyes aren't co-operating right now. I've ordered new glasses and should be getting them in 1-2 weeks, so hopefully that'll help. It sucks not being able to read for more than 15 minutes at a time.

I'm enjoying both so far, I'm 6 chapters into Arcadia and 8 chapters into Karen Memory.

Yay, Anna! I love both of those books. The audio for Arcadia is very, very good. There are two narrators, John Lee is the main one and Jayne Entwhistle for Angela Meerson's POV. It is pretty complex, though, and that can be easier to follow in print. This is probably a rare exception where I love both formats.

I did think about the audio, but I feel strongly that this needs to be read for the first time, and then maybe an audio re-read will be enjoyable. It's not that I don't want to listen to the audio as such, more that I have more control over the pace when I'm reading it myself. I've noticed lately that I tend to not pause to think about what I just listened, but I do that when I'm reading. So with books that have more complex storylines, I think eyes are the better choice. But if it seems to take too long, I'll most likely get frustrated and try the audio anyway.

I also prefer reading more complex ones :)

I agree with Anna, sorta of. I remember after I read all the harry Potter series. And then listen to the audiobook books. At first it sounded weird. Because of the reader's voice. But it slowly worked into my mind that it was okay to listen too. But I listened to all the books by Nathan Lowell - Golden age of the solar clipper series. And loved it. I listen to it at work while driving hundreds of miles.

I absolutely could not do the HP audios.

Monica wrote: "Not to pile on Allison, but Children of Time is definitely my favorite Scifi/fantasy read this year and one of my favorite books this year overall (not that this is a poll of tremendous depth)."

That's an irresistible endorsement! Adding it to the tbr.

Monica wrote: "Don has a point about thinking of the spiders as more alien......"

No. I went into this book hoping this would work. The fact that they were overgrown earth spiders nullified that idea.

I'm as wistful as Allison. This was a good book, I just couldn't handle the spiders so I didn't make it very far. Couldn't it have been something less creepy? Kittens and puppies? Squirrels? Hell, snakes would be better. Cockroaches?

Read The Face In The Abyss by A Merritt - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1649443296.

Allison wrote: "Phrynne, thank you! And thank you for being a part of it!

Alanna readers, if I don't see a post started for it in the next week, I'll post it, but I'm really hoping y'all feel empowered to splint..."

Hey Ashley, John, Allison, and anyone else who wants to join in on the fun: I went ahead and created a buddy read thread for the Tortall series here . Excited to start!

Francisca wrote: "Allison wrote: "Phrynne, thank you! And thank you for being a part of it!

Alanna readers, if I don't see a post started for it in the next week, I'll post it, but I'm really hoping y'all feel emp..."

Oo girl!

I finished reading The Fall of the Readers, which was good, but not as good as the last book - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

Just finished The Sorcerer's House and here is
my review of it.

Anna wrote: "I'm finally reading Karen Memory and Arcadia. Unfortunately Arcadia is probably going to take me all month, since I want to read it with my eyes (I can't explain why..." I've read Karen Memory few months ago and I liked, although I had little trouble with language, even Kindle couldn't help me few times :) english is not my mother tongue so that's reason for little struggle during reading.
Totally agree with you regarding audio books.. depending on my concentration and mood I'll read book faster or slower, but with audio there's no control over pace.

Allison wrote: "Oh boy, Esther! I'm fine with snakes but one in my room isn't any good. He couldn't throw it outside??

The guy we got to catch the snake is a snake breeder from a kibbutz just down the road. The snake in our house was non-poisonous but has similar markings and colouring to one that is quite venemous. He said several young gentlemen had ended up spending at painful few days at the local hospital after thinking they could 'just throw it outside'.

Allison wrote: " I was told the girl I am shopping for in our work adopt-a-family likes unicorns. They didn't give me an age, so I figured I'd get a toy and a book and let her sort out how she likes to consume unicorns. .."

My daughter is 20 and doing her military service in a mixed-gender combat unit but she still loves unicorns. After buying her a unicorn blanket recently we were informed we are the best parents ever!

Aleksandra_G wrote: "I've read Karen Memory few months ago and I liked, although I had little trouble with language"

I'm so glad I'm listening to the audiobook, I would've hated the language. It's not that I don't understand it if it's not 'proper English', just that it's so tedious to read. And I can't hear the language flow in my head if I'm not familiar with the style of speech I'm reading. I tend to really dislike books that have a weird (real or made up) style of speech, but this one doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's good to learn these things about yourself, from now on I'll know that a good audiobook will help with this problem, too.

I can't remember what the speech was like, but I absolutely loathed reading the The Knife of Never Letting Go. It's also one of the main reasons I hated The Stars My Destination, it just really got on my nerves.

To clarify, I hate non-standard speech even when reading in my native language. I don't mind hearing it spoken, though.

Anna wrote: "Aleksandra_G wrote: "I've read Karen Memory few months ago and I liked, although I had little trouble with language"

I'm so glad I'm listening to the audiobook, I would've hated the language. It's..."

I'm not sure if I would understand audio at all :) while reading I can make pretty good guess based on the root of the word, but if I had to listen that speech maybe I'd give up very soon.. which would be a pity cause it's a good book :)
When I come across on similar book like this, and I can't make it through, I tend to search for translations. That's my recipe :)

Yes, there's a difference with language where the vocabulary is too difficult for one's level, and where the speech style isn't comfortable. I obviously prefer ebooks for those times when the vocabulary might baffle me, because the Kindle dictionary is so handy. I've tried to press words in physical books sometimes, it doesn't help :D

Anna wrote: " I've tried to press words in physical books sometimes, it doesn't help :D"

you just made my day, lol :D