SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Jacqueline wrote: "I’ve been thinking about the “I love it/I hate it” thing with Hitchhikers Guide. Maybe it’s a country thing. Pommy humour and American humour are two different things. I was brought up with English..."

Same here, Jacqueline! I even tried stuff like Simpsons in vain, while I totally loved Hitchhiker's back in the days.

The world would be pretty boring if we all liked the same thing eh Gabi.

Don wrote: "I know that "Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy" has a strong following, I just didn't get it and feel that people that do, should be watched, monitored and possibly medicated... just kidding...no I'm..."

I read it and didn't get it, either, but then I'm apparently impervious to P. G. Wodehouse, as well. In both cases I tend to think it's a me, American, thing. On the other hand, I enjoyed Edmund Crispin's goofy mysteries, Monty Python was frequently hilarious and so was The Goon Show, so I'm not entirely biased against British humor.

For what it's worth, a Brit I know on another website is immune to Christopher Moore, so maybe it goes both ways.

Randy Money, As my dad says "That's why they make black shoes And brown shoes", I'll keep my eyes out for that Wodehouse fellow as he sounds like touble.

"""disclaimer""" my comments often contain: bad humor, attempts at humor, humorous comments other people have made, written or sang in a song.
please know that no animals, not expressly designated as livestock, were ever injured in the making of this message or likely in the "Cats eating Ice Cream" videos.

lol Don

Having raced through The Fated Sky I've just bought the 3rd Lady Astronaut novel, The Relentless Moon. Love this series!

Ahh, I can't wait to have time to get to Relentless Moon, Sue! Tell us how it goes when you're done!

I read No Man's Land by A.J. Fitzwater (the author of the adorable The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper). I thought I knew what it was about (Land Girls in New Zealand during WWII), but instead of pure historical fiction, it has a strong plot with Māori mythology! I really enjoyed it, some of the coolest fantasy elements I've read in a long time. I'll definitely read whatever they write next.

Genre:- Fantasy
Book Name:- Thirteen Treasures
Author:- Michelle Harrison
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Great Book,Great Plot

Anees, I have that on my audio TBR, good to know it's great! :)

Anna wrote: "I read No Man's Land by A.J. Fitzwater (the author of the adorable The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper). I thought I knew what it was about (Land Girls..."

That sounds great - I have to get to the pirate book ASAP. Unfortunately eye-reading was nearly non-existent for me in August. Hope September looks better in this.

I finished another new release (gosh, I'm really taking this nomination stuff seriously ... LOL!)

Road Out of Winter by Alison Stine has a rather conventional climate-change-dystopian-folks-fall-back-to-primitive-behaviour plot, but really good characters and two women interacting a lot without bitching or having to get romantically involved, which was just great!

Gabi, I was going to say that you'd probably like it, but I've recced so many books to you lately, and this one you'd have to buy, so I thought I'd let you make your own decisions :D

But I've added Road Out of Winter to my Storytel shelf, so thanks! ^_^

Don wrote: "I know that "Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy" has a strong following, I just didn't get it and feel that people that do, should be watched, monitored and possibly medicated... just kidding...no I'm..."

So being an American, and enjoying Hitchhikers, I can say that from my perspective it is not really meant to be read but listened to. Many of the things that were sliding past me while I was reading it were laugh out loud funny was i listened to it.

Don wrote: "American sense of humor? what? Australian's don't laugh at "Cats eating ice cream?"."

Okay, but do they laugh at Tiger's getting into boxes?

Really I thought everyone laughed at crazy cat things.

In the last half of August I read Spinning Silver which I loved as well as the latest Ilona Andrews, Emerald Blaze. I also managed to finish The Mere Wife which was really good especially since I had read Beowulf: A Verse Translation (Second Edition) to prep for it. I finished the month off with Headley's Beowulf: A New Translation to see what new things she brought to the poem.

Dj wrote: "So being an American, and enjoying Hitchhikers, I can say that from my perspective it is not really meant to be read but listened to. Many of the things that were sliding past me while I was reading it were laugh out loud funny was i listened to it."

Makes sense since it began, as I recall, as a radio show then morphed to other media.

You could be right there Dj. My first experience of it was my teacher reading it to us and I loved it right from the start.

HeyT - I hope you’ll add your thoughts to the buddy read thread when it opens (9/21 I think?). I’m looking forward to reading Headleys Beowulf translation.

Idk how I missed that there was going to be a buddy read of it. I've been trying to keep up with that thread. I'll definitely pop in when it opens.

I haven't posted here in ages, since my reading has been pretty sporadic, but I'm finally getting back to it.

Recent reads: I'm trying to finish the novellas for the Ignyte Awards, so I just read The Murders of Molly Southbourne and The Survival of Molly Southbourne. Interesting premise, but I didn't find either of them as compelling as the Rosewater books. I also listened to Necahual, from Xenowealth: A Collection. The story was just okay, but I'm very intrigued by the universe that was introduced.

I'm currently reading The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday, which is a very funny blend of fantasy and sci-fi, and listening (finally!) to After Atlas. It's very different than Planetfall, but Emma Newman's writing is still wonderful. Was there a series BR for this? The GR search function hasn't been working for me recently.

The Planetfall series BR thread got turned into the Planetfall spoiler thread when it was BOTM, but I started a new series thread here. Some of the After Atlas talk might be in the other thread. Or maybe there was no talk of After Atlas, I shockingly don't remember!

Thanks, Anna! It looks like there is some discussion of Atlas Alone in both threads, although mostly behind spoiler tags without particular chapter/percent indicated so I'll wait until I'm done with the book to dig deeper.

Anna wrote: "I read No Man's Land by A.J. Fitzwater (the author of the adorable The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper). I thought I knew what it was about (Land Girls..."

Glad to know that this is also good, I put it on my TBR when I finished Cinrak. Don't know when I'll get to it though.

It's nothing like Cinrak though! But it's optimistic, so they do have that in common.

Jacqueline wrote: "You could be right there Dj. My first experience of it was my teacher reading it to us and I loved it right from the start."

There are a number of books that are like that for me. Although admittedly not all of them are funny. The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis is pretty amusing. A Night in the Lonesome October is also pretty amusing, but I have never read Watership Down only listened to it and because of that am unlike to read it. There are some books that just seem meant to be heard.

Kaa wrote: "I haven't posted here in ages, since my reading has been pretty sporadic, but I'm finally getting back to it.

Recent reads: I'm trying to finish the novellas for the Ignyte Awards, so I just read ..."

A story with a Gurkha? Now those guys can be amusing and hell without even trying. I might have to look that one over.

working on The Three-Body Problem and I'[m liking it. I saw where NetFlix is developing it as a series. Hopefully they do use all Asian actors for it.

And I'm about 40% through [book:Toll the Hounds|938544]

Plus I'm really liking this collection of short stories: Stable Strategies and Others by Eileen Gunn. Thought provoking to say the least.

Have anyone of you read "DUBLIN MURDER SQUAD SERIES" by TANA FRENCH
It's a good series which will keep you on the edge of the seat.
There is no relation between books of the series so you can read any book.
But if you read it in order you will understand more about the characters in the series.
In the Woods https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Total 6 books in the series.

So this is my review of the:

The Stainless Steel Rat


Sometimes you just have to take a step back and read something that you remember being a good book and see if it still fits that mold now that you have changed and time has passed. That was the case with this book. I remember it being pretty good the first time I read it some thirty-odd years ago.

I am happy to say that it was as good as I recalled. It a future where most aberrant behavior is controlled and weeded out of mankind (a thought that I find frightening in and of itself. The Main Character stands out as a Criminal Master Mind. Of course to be a Criminal in that society you kind of have to be a Master Mind or you get caught far too quickly.

One of the most outstanding things in this book is the antagonist in the book is a Woman. A Woman that is as capable and intelligent as the Main Character. A fact that in a book of today would be of no real notice, but this book was first published in 1961, not a time that was known for its overly strong female characters. So it is all the more remarkable for that.

An enjoyable romp through the illegal side of a Galaxy, light on world-building and also on character development, but fun for all that.

I'm back to the Spellslinger series with Queenslayer after perusing a couple of historical fiction tales. One, All the Light We Cannot See, was quite good.

Frustrated that the showrunners for 3BP are who they are, but hoping they've learned lessons and most of the writers and actors will be Chinese or of Chinese descent!

Tana French is hugely popular with some of our group, Anees! What's your favorite so far?

I keep seeing Stainless Steel Rat, DJ, but just haven't had time to get to it. Great review.

How's the Spellslinger series holding up, Eric?

I just read Jade City and its sequel Jade Wa and loved both! Can't wait for the third book next year. Not sure what to read next; I've been getting into adult fantasy this year and am looking to read some more of it.

Allison wrote: "How's the Spellslinger series holding up, Eric?"

One could easily end this series after book three. De Castell brings enough closure in each book of his series. I am finishing the series as interludes in between finding something to really catch my attention. So far, four stars for the first three books. Three stars for #4.

Reichis Rules

You nailed it Eric, three and done.

I am reading Embers of War

More of my 2020 release reads:


Road Out of Winter by Alison Stine, is one of your rather typical dystopian novels where it's getting colder, resources get scarce, people have to leave their cities and encounter all kinds of fallen-back-to-primitive-ways communities on their way. It is well written and for me it stood out of the usual mold, because of its layered characters and their well done interaction. We even have two females that interact and work together without a) bitching or b) getting romantically involved with each other - I thought this extra mention-worthy.

A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen: I have to admit that I have a soft spot for the way Mike Chen writes characters, that feel so realistically flawed and behaving so stupidly at times - just like probably a lot of us would. So I enjoyed his band of 4 main characters (a father, his daughter, a sarcastic wedding planer and a run-away popstar) a lot. But I know from the group discussion of another book of his here I'm in the minority with my liking of his work.
The story itself isn't exactly gripping. It is a past pandemic world on the verge of the second wave, the surviving people live in metros and try to get their lives from before back. The pandemic is more or less background for the personal stories of those 4 characters. In parts too sugar coated.
I liked reading it, but it is nothing special.

The Stone Wētā by Octavia Cade is definitely worthy of a novella nomination for the Hugos. The best novella I've read so far this year. A mosaic story/report of scientists all over the world who are only mentioned by their code names of species that are specially adapted to their respective environment. Each POV starts with a biological information about the particular species, and the chapter reveals how approbriate each name is.
Not really a story, more snapshots of how the scientists feel as they try to rescue climate data that is about to be edited by industries and governments.
I adored this narration about the brave, secretive science heroes.

So far 2020 has been a good year for me in regards to reading despite everything else going on. It’s going to get even better once Rhythm of War, Ready Player Two, and Battle Ground are released.

I am currently re-reading Stormlight Archive getting ready for RoW. It has been fun re-reading the scenes I forgot happened.

I also introduced my nephew to the Chronicles of Narnia. He in turn introduced me to The Stonekeeper.

Some of my favorites from the year so far that I would recommend:
Never Die
Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook
Interdependency Trilogy
Red Rising 4 & 5

Your reviews of Stone Weta are making me incredibly eager to read it, Gabi! It sounds like just my kind of thing.

I loved The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday - the humor was joined by some darker themes and more serious notes as the book went on, but it was beautifully blended together and all around a creative and engrossing read. I'm looking forward to trying the author's novels and other short fiction.

Now I'm on to Space Opera September, with The Undefeated up first. From first impressions, it's going to be a quiet, meditative sort of book. So far I am intrigued but not completely won over.

cute, Mason! Lost Boy is one we've been considering for a poll, but it just hasn't made it yet. your praise makes me more determined to find room for it

Kaa, Gurkha keeps being recommended, I have to find time!

Anees wrote: "Have anyone of you read "DUBLIN MURDER SQUAD SERIES" by TANA FRENCH
It's a good series which will keep you on the edge of the seat.
There is no relation between books of the series so you can read ..."

I love all of these books.

Recently I've finished The Eye of Zoltar which is the third in Jasper Fforde's Chronicles of Kazaam. I enjoyed it but it ended on a cliffhanger and the next one's not out yet.
I also just finished The Luminous Dead which is a survival/horror story about a woman in a cave with only her topside handler to get her through everything alive.

Allison wrote: "cute, Mason! Lost Boy is one we've been considering for a poll, but it just hasn't made it yet. your praise makes me more determined to find room for it"

It really is a great book. Made me rethink all of my childhood in regards to Peter Pan lol!

HeyT wrote: "Recently I've finished The Eye of Zoltar which is the third in Jasper Fforde's Chronicles of Kazaam. I enjoyed it but it ended on a cliffhanger and the next one's not out yet. ..."

My first thought after finishing The Eye of Zoltar was "how is he going to write his way out of that?" This was six years ago. Sigh... I love this series. I hope that he finds a way soon.

HeyT wrote: "Recently I've finished The Eye of Zoltar which is the third in Jasper Fforde's Chronicles of Kazaam. I enjoyed it but it ended on a cliffhanger and the next one's not out yet.
I als..."

He is such a talented writer but finishing series within reasonable lengths of time is not one of his best skills!

Finished Shadowshaper too late for both the zoom chat and for an August discussion. Oh no!

It wasn't bad! But I wish I could have gotten into the heart of its characters as much as I did the heart of its setting. There was just something missing there for me. (review)

My review of The Original by Brandon Sanderson

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

re reading books in my cupboard, just finished anne McCaffrey, now for L.E. Modesitt Jr , the spellsong cycle