SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I finished Change Agent by Daniel Suarez. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Almost done with The Beast Lord. An improvement over the first book in the series, but still needs some "cleaning".

Reading J R Ward brotherhood series : a light one. Then Tom Holt 's Expecting someone taller; at the same time I am reading a Lee Child's book

I like to have a different book for different times of the day

Kateb wrote: "Reading J R Ward brotherhood series : a light one. Then Tom Holt 's Expecting someone taller; at the same time I am reading a Lee Child's book

I like to have a different book for different times o..."

Have you read Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Sausages? this author comes highly recommended by a friend.

I am still listening to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Since this is an audiobook, we don't get to 'hear' Harry/Ron's comments/scribblings on the pages. But it is fun to try identifying the new beasts.

I am not sure what to read next except for the group reads....should I read The Way of Kings (thanks Tor!) or Dreamer's Pool or Lines of Departure?

haven't read tom holts book of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Sausages, but will look into it

Silvana wrote: "Kateb wrote: "Reading J R Ward brotherhood series : a light one. Then Tom Holt 's Expecting someone taller; at the same time I am reading a Lee Child's book

I like to have a different book for dif..."

Tough call! I love Way of Kings AND Juliet Marillier! I know nothing about Kloos. Maybe a break from fantasy after Fantastic Beasts would be good? Juliet I find best when I want to get cozy and pensive (though I haven't read this series, so maybe it's a radical departure?) Way of Kings is a hefty book but so tasty all the way down. Classic epic fantasy with a great world and cast.

Silvana wrote: "I am not sure what to read next except for the group reads....should I read The Way of Kings (thanks Tor!) or Dreamer's Pool or Lines of Departure?"

The only one of those I've read was Lines of Departure. I thought it was a bit better than Terms of Enlistment. Every book in that series is a little bit better than the one before.

I finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Ubik, as well as Binti and Transmetropolitan, Vol. 3: Year of the Bastard. Now I'm taking a break from all the PKD and switching gears to Dragonflight. Also managed to pick up Foreigner at the thrift shop today, which is a lucky find since its next month's sci fi read and my library doesn't have it.

Jen wrote: "...Also managed to pick up Foreigner at the thrift shop today, which is a lucky find since its next month's sci fi read and my library doesn't have it. "

We have 9 libraries in our system, over three counties here, and there was ONE copy... I got it early!

I'm finally giving Red Country a try.

I loved Red Country! !!

I just finished listening to Words of Radiance, the second book in the Stormlight Archive. Both books were amazing, though I regret doing it so soon. It's always torture waiting for new books in a much loved series. Sanderson is thankfully much faster than most others, but even he cannot keep up with my impatience.

A few months ago I read the Gentleman Bastards. Same problem, unfortunately.

I don't like waiting, but they were too good to pass up

I'm starting Blood Enemies by Susan R. Matthews. I really enjoy her writing but it's been way too long since I've read her.

Since my last post a couple weeks ago, I’ve finished:

1. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. I enjoyed this quite a bit. The plot itself isn’t that unique to a modern-day audience, but the setting in the late 1800’s (when the book was written) made it more unique in my experience for this type of a story. My review.

2. Night Watch by Terry Pratchett, the 6th book in the Watch subseries of Discworld. I liked this one pretty well. My review.

3. The Science of Discworld II: The Globe. I wasn’t too crazy for this, although I did enjoy the fictional parts. The science parts were full of repetition, and had a lot more discussions of theory and origins (as did the first book) than I could muster up the interest for. It seems to have pretty good reviews, so maybe I’m just the wrong audience. In any case, I’ve decided against reading the last two Science books. My review.

Today I started The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I’ve read about 25% and I’m enjoying it a lot so far. It’s a light, fast read.

My review of Stolen Magic by Marina Finlayson

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

Infinity Engine: Transformation 3 by Neal Asher.

Sarah Anne wrote: "I'm finally giving Red Country a try."

Definitely one of my favourites!!

Finished Furthermore, now reading Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble, which is both funny and horrifying.

My March reading included Doomsday Book (★★★★☆), The Fall of Hyperion (★★★★☆), and CryoBurn (★★★☆☆) — progress on a few of my unfinished series.



I am currently reading The Name of the Wind.

Just finished up Doomsday Book. While it was a slow start, it did ultimately turn into a book I didn't want to put down. It took me a few weeks to read the first half and a day to read the second half!

I finished Curse of the Mistwraith and The Gathering Storm. I am now reading New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson which is definitely a Cli-Fi, but I'm not sure yet if it's a Sci-Fi.

Michael wrote: "Just finished Babylon's Ashes. I loved it! The Expanse is a great science fiction series. I might read some Arthur C. Clarke next."

I agree and have kept up with the series. I like the TV series too, though have only seen season 1.

My reading still continues to be a struggle, but I did two more audio books:

I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban ★★★½ ☆- (My Review)

The Collapsing Empire ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

How did you get The Collapsing Empire so quickly ?

MadProfessah wrote: "How did you get The Collapsing Empire so quickly ?"

It came out last Tuesday in the US. I think it's overseas release is this week.

Karen the last 1/2 of DOOMSDAY BOOK is one of the most harrowing experiences I have had with a book. Stayed up until 3am (weekend) to finish it. COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!

Karen wrote: "Just finished up Doomsday Book. While it was a slow start, it did ultimately turn into a book I didn't want to put down..."

I really really really need to read that. I keep hearing how good it is.

MadProfessah wrote: "Karen the last 1/2 of DOOMSDAY BOOK is one of the most harrowing experiences I have had with a book. Stayed up until 3am (weekend) to finish it. COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!"

No punches being pulled with this book! I think "but...why? WHAT?!" came out of my mouth a few times.

Karen wrote: " I think "but...why? WHAT?!" came out of my mouth a few times. "

I love books like that! The Great Forgetting recently did it to me :)

Michele wrote: "Karen wrote: " I think "but...why? WHAT?!" came out of my mouth a few times. "

I love books like that! The Great Forgetting recently did it to me :)"

Have you read his The Man from Primrose Lane? I liked it even more than The Great Forgetting.

I'm reading Zoo City by Lauren Beukes, Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales by Kate Forrester.and on audible A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Sarah Anne wrote: "Have you read his The Man from Primrose Lane? I liked it even more than The Great Forgetting. ."

Not yet, but I liked TGF enough that that one is now on my list.

Michele wrote: "Sarah Anne wrote: "Have you read his The Man from Primrose Lane? I liked it even more than The Great Forgetting. ."

Not yet, but I liked TGF enough that that one is now on my list."

I hope you like it. It has so much energy and it gains major momentum as it goes.

I'm finishing Ender's Game. It definately is a page turner, but that books has issues irrelevant of Card's political views.

I thought Frankenstein was very interesting, and surprisingly, not scary at all. Now I'm reading Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell. I think it's history fiction or something like that. I've never even seen Stonehenge for real (but I want to some day, it's one of the few sights that I really want to see) and I wonder what story he has come up with.

Stephanie was right, Legend was a quick read. I have no complaints, but it's not one of the must-read books of our time.

Now onto Ready Player One which I've heard great things about, and which I expect will send me into strong bouts of nostalgia. I gotta say though I'm finding it very slow to start, and the humor isn't really landing with me. Maybe it's not funny because he's just recounting things I experienced except this character's life is way more tragic?

The start of RPO isn't the best. Once the hunt starts, it's great though.

Rob wrote: "The start of RPO isn't the best. Once the hunt starts, it's great though."

Fair enough, I'll keep pluggin' away!

I'm currently reading Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters. I picked it up because of its alternate present, it's not alternate history if it takes place with GPS, cell phones and airlines, is it? But there is still slavery in four states in the US and there was no Civil War. 100 pages in, I'm finding it fascinating and chilling.

Julia wrote: "I'm currently reading Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters. I picked it up because of its alternate present, it's not alternate history if it takes place with GPS,..."

I think "alternate history" is usually used to describe such books. I haven't really read anything in that genre, but when I think "alternate history" the first thing I think of is The Man in the High Castle, which was also set in the same year it was written.

True enough, David. When I read The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, I thought of it as alternate history, even though it is set in the present, also. That book is set in Alaska, where Sitka and environs had been set up as a home for mostly European Jews.

One of these days I'm going to get around to The Man in the High Castle.

Julia wrote: "I'm currently reading Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters. I picked it up because of its alternate present, it's not alternate history if it takes place with GPS,..."

Yes! I love that book!

I believe alternate history just means that their history diverged from ours. I don't think it matters when it was set.

Finished Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble - by turns hilarious and horrifying. Now reading Lolly Willowes and am in awe at the beauty of her writing.

YouKneeK wrote: "Since my last post a couple weeks ago, I’ve finished:

1. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. I enjoyed this quite a bit. The plot itself isn’t that unique to a modern-day audience, b..."

Are all of the Discworld companion books worth to read? I have not even finished the Death arc (having only finished the Watch arc) so I am still hesitating.

Silvana wrote: "YouKneeK wrote: "Since my last post a couple weeks ago, I’ve finished:

1. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. I enjoyed this quite a bit. The plot itself isn’t that unique to a moder..."

They're all different. I think Terry Pratchett improved as he went along, but a lot of readers have favourite arcs. I'm pretty fond of Granny Weatherwax myself :-)

Currently listening to:
Magic Shifts

and slowly STILL reading:
Red Queen


as I get older I refuse to just waste my money on unfinished books. I will finish this book if it takes me two years... though I hope that it doesn't.

Silvana wrote: "Are all of the Discworld companion books worth to read? I have not even finished the Death arc (having only finished the Watch arc) so I am still hesitating."

I’m not sure which ones are considered companion books, but I’ve enjoyed most of the fictional novels that I’ve read pretty well, all ranging from 3-4 stars. I’ve been going in publication order, so I’ve read at least a little bit from all of the subseries now.

My favorite subseries was the Witches one. I would definitely recommend trying that set. The first one is ok, maybe a little generic, but I really enjoyed Wyrd Sisters and some of the subsequent books.

I know a lot of people love Death, and I do like the character, but I think on average the books in that series were my least favorite. I liked the last one, Thief of Time, quite a bit though.

Chakara wrote: "and slowly STILL reading:
Red Queen


as I get older I refuse to just waste my money on unfinished books. I will finish this book if it takes me two years... though I hope that it doesn't."

I have that on my Kindle. Kind of dreading it, given some reviews from people with similar taste to me.

Chakara wrote: "and slowly STILL reading:
Red Queen


as I get older I refuse to just waste my money on unfinished books. I will finish this bo..."

Ouch, I can feel your pain, that one was really awful.

The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because eventually some characters get to (view spoiler)[humiliate Mare and call her out on her utter incompetence and stupidity (hide spoiler)]; and, if I squint hard enough (and stay far away from the sequels), I can delude myself into thinking that (view spoiler)[ the villains won (hide spoiler)] in the end.

It doesn't in any way make up for the time you wasted on it, but it's still quite satisfying.

Ryan wrote: "Chakara wrote: "and slowly STILL reading:
Red Queen


as I get older I refuse to just waste my money on unfinished books. I will finish this book if it takes me two years... though ..."

I think its just too similar to other books. years ago maybe it would have been more likable but ...not today.