SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Gabi wrote: "Faith wrote: "My review of Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

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

Ah, good to see that I apparently didn't miss someth..."


I almost stopped after about 30 pages. I should have listened to my instincts.

I am a committed Harry Dresden fan so don't take my word for it but I thought Battle Ground was great. I am not usually keen on battles and this one lasts the whole book, but the characters are good and the magic is huge. Really entertaining!
My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I’m listening to Battle Ground now.

I have a feeling that after I finish, I’m going to eye read both peace talks and this one, back to back, again, just to get a better handle on the whole story.

Just finished Caves of steel - Isaac Asimov
Didn’t enjoy it quite as much as his short stories like Nightfall. Starting to see a pattern in Asimov’s writing. He tends to build up the suspense right till the fag end of the book and then gives a quick-ish ending. Had the same feeling while reading “Nemesis”. Not at all gratifying :(

Finished with Finder, a fun and quick read. Now starting with The Dawnhounds.

I just discovered we have Storytel where I live. I’m amazed at the titles available! Still on trial period but I can see this can be worth adhoc subscription.

Thanks for those who have mentioned this repeatedly. Please do link me if a thread exists for titles discovered on there.

So I started MURDERBOT. Sounds promising.

Storytel thread! :)

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

My review of The Seventh Perfection by Daniel Polansky

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

Anna wrote: "Storytel thread! :)

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

Yay Thank you!

I'm just reading the second book of the Rampart Trilogy "The Trials of Koli" and already like it a lot.

HA! This post up there was a test, cause yesterday I couldn't post in the groups. apparently it works on the mobile app ...

just started reading Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Been wanting to read the sequel after Ender's game but haven't gotten into it until now. So far, it's interesting.

Tbh, I haven't read much sci-fi / fantasy books and I wanted to change that starting this month. Hahah. There are just so many books so it's kind of hard to know where to start.

Sidelights on New London and Newer York and Other Essays by G.K. Chesterton

Finally settled in and reading Doors of Eden now. I’m switching reading modes between Storytel and the book and I find I have to re-read the Interludes to appreciate them! I’ve definitely missed details/clues just listening to those parts but it’s so massive and I want to continue listening throughout the day!

I am excited as I think I can guess where the interludes connect to the plot!

@Grace: I've read some reviews where the readers admitted to skimming through the interludes. That's definitely missing part of the story. Yet I guess they are easier to follow if one has a basic knowledge of evolutionary biology.

@Gabi Requires some processing power on my side to recall evolutionary biology, and then re-imagine to them into new things and new lives Adrian has created for them. I need time to settle into the transitions of where I can agree, that yes that could be possible actually the way he’s reasoned them, why not. That’s what I’m missing when I’m just listening. Listening could fade into a feeling of as if I was just tuned in to BBC Earth on the background vs. the wonderful reimagining that I want to brew in my mind.

The tone Adrian uses is so funny though, right?! This style of his mixing styles, interludes as if academic material read by an overly passionate cool biology teacher, and then call outs a Gymbro Police? Lol.

Me: How important is coffee to my daily routine?

Me: How dare you ask me such a question!

Me: It was a rhetorical que...

Me: SILENCE!!!

I just practically inhaled Return of the Thief. Excellent work, as always from this author.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

You might have to employ a little patience going through the early part of the story, but it will be revealed to you -- a world full of beauty and mystery that will fill our soul. This is an amazing work -- like nothing I've ever read. 5 stars, the highest recommendation.

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
I was totally confused until the end but still enjoyed the journey. I wonder if the author is the only one who truly understands what is happening at any given time.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I completed The Books of Earthsea. All, including short stories, in one volume with illustrations. Fantastic! Five hundred stars. Don't let the market definition of YA or children scare you away. These are tales for all ages and the latter books amazing.

Onto The Snow Child .

Beyond the Hundred Kingdoms by Rod Espinosa

halfway through The Crippled God and enjoying it
and
in the second book of Rise of Empire having finished the 4 prequels which I thought were better written

reading a frustrating series, the basic story line is good BUT it is mostly the romance of two characters for each book. i like the story line and want to know what happens but have to skim the romance so i dont miss out on what the story is doing.
ahhhhhhh

christine feehams "dark" series. up to book 32

The Unremembered Lands by Rod Espinosa

So far in October I've managed to finish the Obsidian Trilogy with To Light a Candle and When Darkness Falls. A pretty basic fantasy trilogy with a coming of age hero journey. Easy and light despite the length of the books.
I then went on to Sea of Rust which I enjoyed reading about our AI overlords.
Next was ;Anna Karenina in an effort to prep for Android Karenina which I've put on hold until I finish the Shades of Magic Trilogy. I just finished A Gathering of Shadows so now I'm about to start A Conjuring of Light.
Pretty productive reading month so far.

Michelle, The Queen's Thief series looks interesting, I'm going to give it a try. Thank You.

Am currently reading "The Black Prism. The Author is apparently an architect type and there are code violations and some nuggets of goodness.

Currently, I'm fighting through Battle Ground. So far probably my least favourite Dresden Files novel.

I’m wrapping up the Audible Original adaptation of “The Sandman,” by Neil Gaiman, and it is phenomenal.

I love audio dramas, I love the original comics, but was wary of the translation of mediums - but Gaiman’s involvement narrating and producing, working from the original descriptions he wrote in the comic scripts... has lent this performance a whole new texture. Divorced from the art of Sam Keith, the writing stands out. The terrifying lows, sublime highs and unflinching menace of Gaiman’s imagery bleeds through.

This is *NOT* a work for the faint of heart. It is filed with human misery and the miserable humans that bring it.

Don wrote: "Am currently reading "The Black Prism. The Author is apparently an architect type and there are code violations and some nuggets of goodness."

Ah - Gavin Guile. I really enjoyed that whole series

I feel so torn reading all these updates, so many of these books are interesting to me and I own more than a few already, but I'm not sure where to start. (e.g. I own the complete Sandman graphic novels but haven't started them yet, I own a bunch of the Earthsea novels and I loved the first one, I own Black Prism and Gideon the 9th, loved the Norrell book by Susanna Clarke so Piranesi sounds good too) Have lots of stuff I'm interested in that's not mentioned here as well. Ahhh!! What to read next?

Christopher wrote: "I feel so torn reading all these updates, so many of these books are interesting to me and I own more than a few already, but I'm not sure where to start. (e.g. I own the complete Sandman graphic n..."

It's an ongoing and unsolvable problem. Just add them all to the list, pour yourself another libation and carry on. 📚

I feel your pain Christopher. My current TBR pile has now completely taken over a whole bookcase here at the Farm. And I bought 6 new books in the last 2 weeks (Piranesi, Magic Lessons, Hollowpox, Left-Handed Booksellers of London, Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Rodham). Add to that the nearly 3 bookcases full at the Beach house that I didn’t bring with me to the Outback at the beginning of the pandemic (the bookcase full here now) that I still haven’t read. Oh and the heap on my iPad that I could only find online. I think I have around 23 books in my currently reading list at the moment since I start something and then get sidetracked by another shiny new book and then I end up not finishing anything. I’m determined I’m going to finish Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo this week but there is also Harrow the Ninth, Recursion, Hollowpox, Addie LaRue and Magic Lessons all calling my name. So many books and so little time.

I moved from the Outback back to the Farm last week (Hubby is supposedly retiring at the end of the month but they need him to stay on until they can find someone else and he doesn’t want to but maybe will but he only has a small TV, one chair, a single bed and no fridge or washing machine or much else since we cleaned the place out last week and threw everything on a truck) and I saved my good bookshelves from being a pantry. Hubby had put 2 of my beautiful expensive bookcases in the pantry over 18 months ago to use as shelves and I recently bought some cheap ones to replace them. He finally built them last weekend. My daughter didn’t treat my good ones very well and there are scratches and sticky bits but they’re clean now and one is full of books (and they’re already getting piled on top of each other since the shelves are full) and the other is full of fabric and sewing stuff.

@Margaret - good advice, was overwhelmed for a moment, but now I'm ready to get back to it

@Jaqueline - I feel like it's fun to have so many books to look forward to at any given point, but agree sometimes it feels as though my book accumulation is faster than my ability to read them all

I'm thinking I'll start with The Orphans of Raspay as that's short and I've read a few other Penric novellas this year so the characters are still fresh in my mind -- I think completing a series (or at least getting up to date) would feel like an accomplishment. At the same time I think I'll keep chipping away at The Best of Greg Egan which I've had out from the library since March (due dates were extended given the current pandemic, but now I've had to start renewing it every few weeks) and have been enjoying when I've gotten around to it.

Apparently it’s not hoarding if it’s books Christopher lol Even though my Husband would disagree. He loves books and he loves reading but he can’t see the sense in reading them and then keeping them. I on the other hand feel happier when I have much loved books everywhere and my sewing set up. Oh and my colouring stuff is in a kitchen trolley all organised as well. I might not touch any of it but knowing everything is ready for me if I get the urge keeps me calm.

I’d say go with the library book first. Your own books will always be there waiting. And if my library is anything to go by they only let you renew it so many times.

Hubby has told me that I probably should start using ours more once we retire. I am a perpetual renewer and never get stuff finished. Took me so long to get to Leviathan Wakes after I renewed it 3 times that it went back partly finished. I liked it I just wasn’t in the mood to read it when I had it. I ended up buying it anyway. Still haven’t finished it lol

I'm almost finished watching The Man in the High Castle (so much anxiety about it being DONE) so I started reading the book today. Already I'm disagreeing with the book and how it's not written like the show. Oy!

My husband and I finished Man in the High Castle last year and have now started reading the book too. We are about 1/3 into it. I’m kind of glad that the book and the show are so different. It worked well for me with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Blade Runner. I love them both (the movie slightly more).

Karen wrote: "I'm almost finished watching The Man in the High Castle (so much anxiety about it being DONE) so I started reading the book today. Already I'm disagreeing with the book and how it's not written lik..."

It has been my experience that almost any PKD movie I have watched and enjoyed was better than the book it was originated from.

I completed The Snow Child. An okay tale. Two stars for me. Best Served Cold next up. I read the "First Law" trilogy quite awhile ago. This is one of three "standalone" books of "First Law." Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Eric, I really enjoyed Red Country

Don wrote: "Eric, I really enjoyed Red Country"

Good to know. I'll start "Best Served Cold" tonight. Thanks.

Eric, Tell Nicomo Cosca I said hello.

Don wrote: "Eric, Tell Nicomo Cosca I said hello."

Will do.

Reading The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.
Only just started, but good read so far.

I ran across a nice piece of SF satire yesterday. Written in 1809 by Washington Irving, the short essay/story The Conquest of the Earth by the Moon imagines what it would be like if the people of the moon invaded Earth and treated Earthlings the same way Europeans treated the people living in America.

What a nice coincidence that I found it for Columbus Day. Interesting that someone was thinking about this all the way back in 1809.

I finished Bloodhype Bloodhype by

Wow! That sounds really good, Ed. I’ve been surprised how long writers have written sci fi about Moon visitors. Edgar Allan Poe wrote one too that I read. Both predate Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.

Thanks for the link, Ed. I had no idea there were such open critical voices during that time.

Bruce wrote: "Wow! That sounds really good, Ed. I’ve been surprised how long writers have written sci fi about Moon visitors. Edgar Allan Poe wrote one too that I read. Both predate Jules Verne and H.G. Wells."

Well, it is very short, so you might as well read it!

Yeah, such ideas were around for a long time, but Wells created more readable stories.