Beyond Reality discussion

Welcome to March! What are you reading this month?

I finished Children of Time last night and it was fantastic. I was more interested in the spider storyline than the human characters, though. I've already read both of our March group reads, which is actually perfect timing because life is a little nutty right now! It will be nice to just escape into my umpteenth reading of Tigana, which is a favorite that I practically know by heart, then I'll be back to the Tawny Man books with Golden Fool.

Finished Sorcerer to the Crown with 2 days to spare in the month.

My husband has been on a Pierce Anthony kick lately and is working his way through the entire Xanth and Incarnations of Immortality series and that got me in the mood. Never read his Apprentice Adept series, so started Split Infinity this morning.

I may try to finish Martian Summer: Robot Arms, Cowboy Spacemen, and My 90 Days with the Phoenix Mars Mission first. I've been really enjoying it, though it reminds me of both the reason I initially wanted to go into research as well as the reason I eventually chose not to.

I am finishing up The Usurper's Crown by Sarah Zettel, the second book in her Isavalta series. So far, so good!

Next up for me: The Three-Body Problem for our BotM read in SF and The Soul Weaver for a different group's read. Then Golden Fool.

I have read Tigana a couple times and will not be rereading but will follow the discussion.

I'm going the fantasy route this month and reading Tigana here as I'm reading the sci-fi Planetfall for another group.

I also read a book with my husband every month; we chose The Bear and the Nightingale because I love fantasy and he's really into Russian history. We're both really enjoying it so far! It's a bit more fairy-tale-ish than I normally like, but the setting and prose are just gorgeous and have really won me over.

Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike

I finished the latest Jack Reacher book, Past ense, and have started on Raising Stony Mayhall

It's been a while since I stopped by. Gahh. Life goes on,
So I finished Legion versus Phalanx, not bad. Bit if ancient History and what the author thought was six key battles between using the Legion system and Phalanx system

Since then I have read a few
Cibola Burn
Not bad, better than the previous book but pretty much more of the same except on a planet

The City Stained Red
This was interesting. A group of "adventurers" come to the city looking to be paid and stumble on some big happenings.
A different sort of fantasy story.

Startide Rising
This was a reread, I was looking for SF but something I had not seen in a while. It is still pretty good, I still rate it as one of my favourite books of all time

This I have been waiting for for a while.
Firstborn
Just started this a week ago, It's part one, the second book comes out in June, I was going to wait till next Nov and read both but when the book was in my hands I could not help myself

I still haven't decided which of my own books to pick up yet, but I think you all will appreciate the momentous occasion: tonight, I started reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with my second grader :)

Truly an epochal event.

Shel wrote: "I still haven't decided which of my own books to pick up yet, but I think you all will appreciate the momentous occasion: tonight, I started reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone w..."

Special!

Shel wrote: "Welcome to March! What are you reading this month?"

I'm slowly working my way through House Harkonnen and I'm sure I'll add in at least one other short SF or fantasy novel in the next couple weeks.

@Phillip Friends don’t let friends read the truly awful Kevin Anderson & Brian Herbert Dune prequels!!!

MadProfessah wrote: "@Phillip Friends don’t let friends read the truly awful Kevin Anderson & Brian Herbert Dune prequels!!!"

I don’t have very clear memories of these books, since I read them some time ago, but I thought they were OK. Not ground-breaking or particularly special, but OK.

Son of a Liche by J. Zachary Pike

MadProfessah wrote: "@Phillip Friends don’t let friends read the truly awful Kevin Anderson & Brian Herbert Dune prequels!!!"

Hah, I found the prequels very pedestrian compared to the original books. What really turned me off them was the sequels to the original Dune series. The final book ending was just awful.

Ken wrote: "MadProfessah wrote: "@Phillip Friends don’t let friends read the truly awful Kevin Anderson & Brian Herbert Dune prequels!!!"

Hah, I found the prequels very pedestrian compared to the original boo..."

I remember when I first read Dune, friends told me not to read the sequels; I loved the book and had to read the next ones and was disappointed...

Christine wrote:I remember when I first read Dune, friends told me not to read the sequels; I loved the book and had to read the next ones and was disappointed... "

Dune: Lightning in a bottle.

I just finished reading Raising Stony Mayhall which I enjoyed despite my usual avoidance of all things "zombie". This book is differeent and recommended. Once again I go off topic to Long Road to Mercy

Christine wrote: "I remember when I first read Dune, friends told me not to read the sequels; I loved the book and had to read the next ones and was disappointed..."

I tried to read God Emperor way back when and did not like it. Tried it again and really enjoyed it, went on the Heretics and Chapterhouse and thought Herbert turned it around. Read the Anderson/Herbert sequels and thought the first one was ok, not bad but when I got to the finale it blew my mind and not in a good a way

I am currently reading The Power by Naomi Alderman.

Per friends' reactions and various reviews people either love this novel or hate it. It's still too early days for me to tell which way I'll lean, yet.

Nyssa wrote: "I am currently reading The Power by Naomi Alderman.

Per friends' reactions and various reviews people either love this novel or hate it. It's still too early days..."

I was totally blown away by that book - looking forward to your thoughts when you finish it!

I may pick up some short stories this week, or I may jump right into Golden Fool for the series discussion!

@Nyssa I loved THE POWER. It will make an awesome film...

MadProfessah wrote: "@Nyssa I loved THE POWER. It will make an awesome film..."

I had no idea an adaptation was in the works! It's being made into a series instead of a movie though. 'The Power' to be adapted for Amazon Prime series I look forward to giving it a try.

Amazon seems to be picking up some great titles.

I finally started Golden Fool yesterday, and am just a few chapters in. Discussion starts Friday!

Shel wrote: "I finally started Golden Fool yesterday, and am just a few chapters in. Discussion starts Friday!"

I started it yesterday, too.

I just finished Long Road to Mercy which I greatly enjoyed; Baldacci can really write!! Back in genre with Akata Witch

Christine wrote: "I just finished Long Road to Mercy which I greatly enjoyed; Baldacci can really write!! Back in genre with Akata Witch"

The group recently read Akata Witch, be sure to pop into the discussion threads and let us know what you thought about it when you finish!

I just finished Akata Witch and have put in a reserve on the next book. Now to read The Winter of the Witch

I'm currently reading The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake. As soon as I finish that I'm moving on to Royal Assassin. Oh, and right now I am doing a buddy read; A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons simultaneously; reading the events of those two books in chronological order.

Holly wrote: "I'm currently reading The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake. As soon as I finish that I'm moving on to Royal Assassin. Oh, and right now I am doing a bu..."

Ooh, I LOVED the first two Gormenghast books and was bored by the third one. Looking forward to hearing what you think!

I'm about 2/3 of the way through Golden Fool.

I'm halfway through Gormenghast right now. Some of the reviews I've read said that the third book wasn't as good, so I'm mentally prepared for that. I love these novels and Peake's writing style. I needed a break from current trends and this has been lovely.

Just finished The True Queen, the sequel to Sorcerer to the Crown. Enjoyed this just as much as the first!

I was thinking of giving up on Sorcerer, I'm struggling with it. Perhaps I'll persevere for awhile if you rate it highly.

While I certainly liked Sorcerer, Bill, don't feel you have to stick with it if it's not for you. Ranganathan, a famous librarian once said "Every person his or her book" and "Every book its reader". If Sorcerer isn't a match for you, look elsewhere!

I agree with Chris; if you’re not into Sorcerer yet it’s probably not the book for you. It’s style is pretty consistent throughout and I think it either works for you or doesn’t.

That said, it really worked for me and I’m glad to hear The True Queen lives up to it, Chris! I need to buy that soon.

Sadly, I did not enjoy The Power.

I'm now reading Not Your Sidekick. But, I'm not really feeling this one either. I hope a slump isn't coming on. They tend to last for months.

A Closed and Common Orbit was good. Not as good as The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, the first of the series, but that's a tough mark to make. I was disappointed not to spend time on the Wayfarer, but I loved reading Pepper's back story. I gave it a 3 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

How could you not love THE POWET??

I finished Golden Fool and commented in our discussion thread.

Probably taking a break from reading during March Madness. It's the only time I watch college (or any) basketball, and I usually am on the iPad or reading magazines during the games--something that does not take my full attention like a book. But I'm sure I'll start something on the days there are no games. I think I have The Firebird's Vengeance up next in Sarah Zettel's Isavalta series.

Finished The Bear and the Nightingale and loved it. I need to save up to purchase the sequels (or hopefully find a sale).

I also read the much-hyped My Sister, the Serial Killer and was pleasantly surprised to find it even better than the hype promised.

Slowly making my way through the group read Tigana. I think I'm about halfway finished. I like it so far, though it's challenging--I'm pretty character-driven, and Dianora is a more interesting character than Devin, so I've slowed down again since the book shifted back to him.

MadProfessah wrote: "How could you not love THE POWET??"


I felt the book fell short of its potential.

Among other things, the level and types of violence were unrealistic in my opinion. While I understood the aspects of revenge, the cruelty, in some of the cases, was over the top, and offensive. (view spoiler)[For instance, I would never advocate raping anyone for any reason, and I am speaking as a survivor.
I can not picture a group of women standing around and cheering another woman raping an innocent man! That just does not make any sense. (hide spoiler)]

Here is my review if anyone is interested.

I finished The Winter of the Witch which was a satisfying ending to a great trilogy; I highly recommend it. Now off topic again with Target: Alex Cross. I've enjoyed reading Patterson when he actually writes (he's handed off too many books to others, so I've quit reading most of "his" books). He still does the Alex Cross book on his own and generally does a good job

Daughter of Danger by John C. Wright

Nyssa wrote: "I felt the book fell short of its potential.

(spoilers for The Power under the cut)
(view spoiler)[I don't think that the book was advocating rape. I think she was trying to show how power dynamics play out when half of the population is given power over the other half, regardless of which half is which. (hide spoiler)]

I picked up The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness, which I was given as a gift, but I'm having a hard time getting into it. It's light on the science and heavy on the flowery philosophizing, which isn't really my cup of tea. Disappointing, because I'm weirdly obsessed with cephalopods and I was super excited to read this. I probably will put it down and pick up Tooth and Claw for the upcoming group read.

City of Corpses by John C. Wright

I just finished Target: Alex Cross which was disappointing; the basic premise was unbelievable (not to mention the unnecessary secondary storyline)
Now back in genre with Sundiver

Christine wrote: "Now back in genre with Sundiver."
I liked Sundiver, and the Uplift series only gets better from there, IMO.

From Here To Infinity: An Exploration of Science Fiction Literature was an interesting lecture, not quite up to the 4 stars I gave it in my review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...