SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

At last I got round to reading The Thousand Names. It was good except when my eyes glazed over from too much battle strategy.

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

I hope I will finish today.

It is not as great as but there are moments which are a lot of fun...

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson. The writing style, the character portrayal, the world building and the plot - I enjoyed everything about this book.

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

Currently reading Peace Talks, going well so far.

Soo wrote: "Eric, have you read Dark Matter?"

I have not. I see it was a "best seller," so I should add it to my list. Thanks.

Dark Matter was my intro to Crouch & it was great. I've been a fan of his writing ever since.

So this is a book review from back in June. And not really germane to the group as a whole, but here it is.

The Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905


So as with all Osprey books, it has a limited amount of coverage of the actual events, but this one is much better than most. So much so that while I was reading it, I looked up the author and found that I had read a number of books by him, mostly from the original Ballantine World in Conflict series. And they were books that I remember being impressed with. For a quick overview of this early introduction of the Japanese on the world stage, this is a great book for that.

Still limited by the format so no better than a three.

The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Plague in History is a 2004 nonfiction book by John M. Barry that examines the 1918 flu pandemic, the worst pandemic in history.

Interesting is the parallel between that pandemic and this one. The book also gives you more respect for the dedicated scientists who fought that plague.

So this is for:

Hexed in Texas: A Humorous Fantasy


So I have to admit that I got this book more for curiosity to find out just what about Baba Yaga could be funny. It most versions of the individual she is either over the top terrifying or willing to assist as long as you are 'very' respectful.

This book uses a combination of both those aspects and does in fact end up being quite humorous. It gives Baba Yaga a much more in-depth personality that doesn't make you think that she is just misunderstood (something I have been hating about the rewriting of fairy tales lately). Baba Yaga is who she is and she isn't apologetic about it or even all that thoughtful about it. She curses any number of people in the book and she is helpful to a couple of others.

The guest stars in the book also add to the humor and mayhem in the book. Well worth the read.

Eric wrote: "Soo wrote: "Eric, have you read Dark Matter?"

I have not. I see it was a "best seller," so I should add it to my list. Thanks."

I really liked Dark Matter. So much so that I bought myself a copy of Recursion from the actual bookshop when it came out. Haven't read it yet but I own it. I don't usually buy books for full price from the bookshop when they are first released because I reckon that $32 is wayyyyyy too much for a paperback. There aren't many authors that I do that with. Mostly I can buy what I want from Big W (our sort of version of Walmart but a lot more upmarket and no guns) for half that but only some publishers sell through the department stores as well as bookshops. Some only sell through proper bookshops. I buy Mark Lawrence's books from the bookshop when they are released but that's usually about it. I'd rather have the new release paperbacks since the writing is bigger but sometimes I just have to wait 12 months until the smaller versions are released for $20.

Just started Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer. It's good.

I’m reading It’s a Small World, by Robert Bloch.

Christopher wrote: "I do think Neuromancer had a good opening line: "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.""

Back in the day it was good, but TV's haven't displayed that for a long time.

It’s such a good line that I (albeit, only very mildly) regret that neither of my children will ever understand it in the same way that people my age and older do.

Jacqueline wrote: "I really liked Dark Matter. So much so that I bought myself a copy of Recursion from the actual bookshop when it came out."

Be sure you have your chores done when you start reading Recursion, because once you are into it, you'll be doing nothing but burning through the pages.

Elowen wrote: "I read the first couple of books and I was sort of entertained, but when I got to Mostly Harmless I lost interest. It just seemed like there was a lot of repetition of stuff from before and I didn't think it was funny or clever anymore."

Mostly Harmless always felt tacked on to me, also. I did not actually read Eoin Colfer's "book six" either, because... it wasn't Adams. I don't think you're missing much,

I'm thoroughly sucked into Caliban's War and will probably go straight into Abaddon's Gate since I'm caught up in the story line.

I'm 3/4 of the way through Sleeping Giants. Really liking it, enough to want to continue the series.

Picked up A Longer Fall, book 2 in the Gunnie Rose series. Light alternate history with fantasy elements thrown in.

I'm over 1/2 way through The City in the Middle of the Night. I'm torn with this one. There are times that the story moves right along and the characters are making me want to know them better. And then repetitive angst. Meh.

Karen wrote: "I'm thoroughly sucked into Caliban's War and will probably go straight into Abaddon's Gate since I'm caught up in the story line.

I'm 3/4 of the way through [book:S..."

AndrewP wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I do think Neuromancer had a good opening line: "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.""

Back in the day it was good, but TV's haven't di..."

I found Abaddon's Gate to be a fun read. I am really enjoying the series, it is never quite what one expects it to be.

So this is a review for:

The Protectorate Wars: Born Hero


In general, I don't like reading a book based solely on the sub-genre it is putting itself into. A book has to be able to stand on its own merits, not on the fact that it is part of a smaller group. So finding a book that says a Steam Punk adventure doesn't motivate me to give it a look. I read a bit of the blurb about this book and decided to give it a go. I am glad that I did.

This book was a fun adventure that has plenty of key elements to make it a good series. Interesting characters, decent world-building, believable politics, murder, and some wild adventure. The author has put together a good first book for the series and I am looking forward to what comes next.

This is for:

Terms of Enlistment



I decided to read this book while waiting for another book in a different series by the same author. I enjoyed that series so I had some good expectations for this one and it didn't disappoint. A space opera with small unit activities at the center of the goings-on. A fun and gloomy read of what the future could hold. The concept is interesting and the world-building is solid enough to hold together. All in all a fairly quick and enjoyable read.

This is for:


The Alexandria Project

A somewhat uneven book about internet vulnerability that is enjoyable in spite of it being uneven. It drags in places and is very quick in others, it does have some very funny moments that are well worth the read. The 'hero' is a code fanatic that has difficulty working with others or in some cases working at all. So not the usual main character for an action-adventure novel. This is a first of a series of books so I will be looking into the next one to see if it steps up or at least keeps the ground that was gained with this book.

Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar by Robert W. Lebling

This is a light hearted paranormal series.
Murdered Gods by Marina Finlayson
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

M.L. wrote: "Just started Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer. It's good."

Uh-oh, I'm already tired of listening to Edward's thoughts and it's only page 18.

Finished Ten Thousand Doors of January. What a delightful refreshing read! Really enjoyed it.

Switching gears, and starting The Dispossessed by UKLG now.

@Grace: The Ten Thousand Doors was amazing!

M.L. wrote: "M.L. wrote: "Just started Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer. It's good."

Uh-oh, I'm already tired of listening to Edward's thoughts and it's only page 18."

LOL

I was excited about two of the New Releases that came out yesterday. =D

Emerald Blaze #3 - Boy was I disappointed by this one! Though, once I looked back at my notes for #1, I should not have been surprised.

Ballistic Kiss #11 of Sandman Slim: Yay! Totally saved my reading mode. It was a classic Stark tale with moody behavior, crazy people, action and true friends. Based on the setup for this book, I really want to read the next book soon as possible.

Thanks to the head's up by Anna, I've been having fun with Audible Plus selections.

These were great audio adaptations. Full cast & production.

- Alien: Sea of Sorrows #2
- Alien: River of Pain #3
- Sherlock Holmes: The Voice of Treason

Finished Reaper's Gale, Malazan Book 7, and I'm on to Toll the Hounds, Book 8. I think I've read Toll the Hounds before, but I know I definitely didn't read Reaper's Gale. No wonder I was so confused reading Toll the Hounds.

Along with it I read The Shaman of Karres and The Crossword Mysteries Holiday Collection: A Crossworder's Holiday, A Crossworder's Gift, Wrapped Up in Crosswords, and A Crossworder's Delight which wasn't very good. It was part of a Humble Bundle or a Story Bundle Offering along with some other better books. The Karres story was a good addition, but none of the subsequent books are as good as The Witches of Karres.

CBRetriever wrote: "No wonder I was so confused reading Toll the Hounds."

Haha, I bet!

I finished Poisoned Blade, the second book in Kate Elliott's only category YA series, "Court of Fives," yesterday. It probably sounds absurd to say that after reading five of her books, I'm finally on board with her writing style (you'd think I'd have checked out by now rather than sticking with it, but stick with it I did!). Anyhow, things are in quite a state of upheaval at the end of this book and I have no idea how everything's going to shake out. (review)

Beth, what other books did you read by KE?

How was Poisoned Blade? I'm still in the middle of that one.

Her YA books are different from her adult books.

Also, I started God Stalk but I kept dropping the story to do something/read something else. Hahha. I think I'll like it if I read more than a few chapters but I gotta get there first. lol

Soo, I've also read Elliott's Spiritwalker series. Both series' structure seemed more or less identical to me, and their both being in first person enhanced that effect. I'm curious to see what her earlier stuff is like, especially if it's different! I ended up liking it a lot, though it was very slow going most of the time. Looks like you're having a slow go of it, too...

Yeah, those are part of her YA series. I'm a fan of her Jaran & Crown of Stars series. Jaran is a SF/Fantasy. Crown of Stars is epic fantasy. I need to catch up and finish Crown of Stars.

Cool. The one I'm looking forward to most after I'm done with Court of Fives is Crossroads. Crown of Stars is also appealing, since it's fantasy, but seven books is a lot.

Double post! (Really?) The Empress of Salt and Fortune is hands-down the best thing I've read all year. There might have been tears. There ain't much to it, but my review is here.

Beth, I'm kicking myself daily for deciding to wait until December to read Empress! I don't know why I get like this sometimes, from what I understand When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain isn't even really a sequel, and even if it was, novellas are quick to reread. But so far I'm still trying to make it to December without reading Empress, and it's not easy with everyone raving about it! :D

Sorry, Anna! Is it a consolation to know it's well worth looking forward to? :D Both the book and the time scale are very different, but I've got Harrow right there and the Spook-tober BR isn't for a few weeks. So I feel your pain, kind of.

Haha, I didn't start Harrow yet, either. But yes, it is nice to have something worth looking forward to!

Vorkosigan peeps! Can I read The Mountains of Mourning, which I only have collected in The Borders of Infinity, if a) I've only read Shards, Barrayar and the first Miles book, and b) I don't read the frame story, just skip to Mountains? Or should I leave all of Borders for later, when I can it it all together?

The lovely thing about the Vorkosigan books is that they can all exist independently of each other - as can the novellas and short stories.

I say that yes, you absolutely can read it at any point. In fact, Bujold wrote the series out of chronological order - she wrote the stories she wanted to write, and fit them into her timeline after.

I did consult the Bujold recommended reading order. I just thought that since I don't have the novella as a standalone, but collected with others and a frame story, maybe it'd be a bad idea to just read the one.

I actually started with Warrior's Apprentice. I read mostly in publication order and stuck to Miles/Family books. Then I went back and read the ones I missed and wrapped up. My favs are mostly about Miles.

I do have a plan for how I want to read Vorkosigan, but I'm thinking of making a detour with Mountains, because it would fairly easily fill a prompt I need for a challenge. But I'm not sure it's worth it, if maybe I should stick to my original plan and read all of Borders together later.

I think it doesn't make a huge difference, honestly. the collection for Borders covers a very large time range and there are entire novels between some of the stories (if I recall correctly).

OK, thanks, I think that answers my question! I'll read it unless I find something else to fill that slot.

I tend to read those in chronological order, just because! The Mountains of Mourning would be good after The Warrior's Apprentice, because after the latter, the references are much clearer.

Mountains of Mourning is good and more serious in time than most of the miles I’ve gotten so far. I vote you read it!

I will eventually read it either way!

Abd actually I read it in your exact order I think - I read the Cordelia Onnibus and then the first Miles omnibus which was Warriors Apprentice, mountains of mourning, The Vor Game (iirc).

Finished with The Prey of Gods and starting something lighter A Hat Full of Sky in audio.