Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

Scott wrote: "I am about halfway through. It is pretty good."

Thank you! I'll check that one out.

Reminds me of Piers Anthony.

I enjoyed reading this series and thought the plot was interesting although the writing was mediocre. I think Philip Jose Farmer did this concept better in his Riverworld books.

J.P. wrote: "I enjoyed reading this series and thought the plot was interesting although the writing was mediocre. I think Philip Jose Farmer did this concept better in his Riverworld books."

Thank you for the heads up. I'll check Farmer's works also and compare. There are so many sci-fi series it's hard to decide what to read next! lol

Just finished a re-read of Neuromancer. Not sure how many times I've read this book over the past 25 years, but it still gets to me. So much style... Makes me want to go buy some mirror shades and some army surplus fatigues and start conducting shady deals in the run-down part of some exotic city!

I just started reading The Forever War and should finish up Uller Uprising today.

I'm also about half way through Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur & the Legends of the Round Table but had to take a break from it. I'm 5o% through Undaunted Courage about Lewis and Clark. Its been incredibly enjoyable, and I hadn't grab a history in a while.

I've just started Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds and The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Both are science fiction, but both also have different levels of horror in them. From the reviews I've read, however, Revelation Space is much more horrific and dark.

Looking forward to both.

Jason wrote: "I've just started Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds and The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Both are science fiction, but both also have different levels of horror in..."

Hi Jason,

I finished reading The Fall of Hyperion early this month, then yesterday Endymion. Today I'm starting The Rise of Endymion, the last book in the Hyperion Cantos. I'm also interested in A. Reynolds's works.

What did you think of Endymion, Shari? I love these books so far, but Endymion seems like it might be different. Would you say that it's worth it continuing the series after the second?

I gave it 4 stars, Jason. You're right that it might be different. The Fall of Hyperion is galactic in scope, fast-paced, and almost all scenes move the story forward. Endymion is a bit the opposite. It zooms in and goes back to the original narrative style of Hyperion. There's another pilgrimage and the story focuses on the pilgrims. But Endymion still continues where The Fall of Hyperion has left off, albeit centuries later. Still worth reading, in my opinion, even when the narrative lingers too long on some parts, like weapons. Hope you'll complete reading the Cantos. The last two books still have mind-bending ideas and adventures to give the reader. Happy reading!

Shari wrote: "Jason wrote: "I've just started Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds ..."

How is Revelation Space in comparison to the Hyperion Cantos?

Thanks, Shari. The entire Cantos sounds exciting. I love the mind blowing ideas.

So far, Revelations Space reminds me very little of Hyperion. There's less humor and more crass/asshole characters. I am enjoying it, though I'm that far into it just yet.

Thanks, Jason. I'll hunt for Alistair's books here in Tokyo.

So many books... so little time... (sigh)

I know that feeling all too well! LOL

Jason wrote: "What did you think of Endymion, Shari? I love these books so far, but Endymion seems like it might be different. Would you say that it's worth it continuing the series after the second?"

I loved Endymion, both the book and the character. I thought it was the best out of the four books, even though I am currently reading The Fall of Hyperion, but it gives a brief summary early on in the book.

Kevin wrote: "Jason wrote: "What did you think of Endymion, Shari? I love these books so far, but Endymion seems like it might be different. Would you say that it's worth it continuing the series after the secon..."

Hello there! I loved Endymion, too. I'm reading The Rise of Endymion now. Too early to tell if I will like the book but I have the feeling I will. It's very rare, for me at least, to love ALL the books in a series. But the Cantos seems to be making me change my mind. After Rise, I will be having that wonderful problem of choosing what series to read next.

If you guys like Endymion and The Rise of Endymion, I'm certain that I will, too. What it comes down to for me is Simmons's writing within this series. It's hypnotic. It makes me want to read and read until my eyes feel like their bleeding.

Jason wrote: "I you guys like it, I'm certain that I will too. What it comes down to for me is Simmon's Writing within this series. It's hypnotic. Makes me want to read and read until my eyes feel like their ble..."

Believe it or not, Jason, I had myself fitted for a pair of reading glasses because of the Cantos! The print of my copies are so fine and my eyes had been so strained and stressed of late that I had to do something or give up reading. The second option is not really an option so there... I finally have my reading glasses. Turned out I really need them, with or without the Cantos. Ha! lol.

I'm glad that you found your reading glasses. I cannot imagine a world without books!

Well - what I'm currently reading isn't SF but it's got atoms! ATOMIC AMERICA by Todd Tucker is about the only accident in the US involving an atomic reactor which resulted in outright fatalities. It seems in the 1950s-1960s there was an area in Idaho covered in nuclear reactors of one sort or another which were used for research by the Navy, Air Force and Army. Take one badly-designed unit for the Army, three poorly-trained techs with SERIOUS personal issues, a single control rod whose removal would result in an explosion, and thereby hangs the tale. Gruesome impalements, cover-ups, accusations of a love triangle - all that plus atoms! To quote Dr Seuss's THE 5000 FINGERS OF DR T: "Is it atomic?" "Very!"

Just finished a re-read of Count Zero. I really think it holds up. Mixing hard sf/cyberpunk with mysticism and magic is a dangerous game though!

Simon wrote: "Just finished a re-read of Count Zero. I really think it holds up. Mixing hard sf/cyberpunk with mysticism and magic is a dangerous game though!"

Well, given that - by his own admission - Gibson knew close to nothing about computers & computing when he was writing his Sprawl stories, it seems he could play whatever games he wanted. A good thing for him so many were happy to join in! I myself re-read ALL of his books - including the 'Blue Ant' novels and THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE - late last year. Skipped over BURNING CHROME for reasons that have nothing to do with the antho's quality. Just didn't get to it. In fact, the short story 'Hinterland' is my spouse's fave Gibson tale.

Finished Midnight at the Well of Souls. It had some interesting ideas, but Chalker's prose is pretty clunky and if you take out all the huge info dumps, there isn't much of a story left. I probably won't continue with this series, but I might try another (I've already acquired a few of the Four Lords of the Diamond).

I recently finished Spin and I loved it. I'm now reading Old Man's War and I love it. In fact, I don't know why I'm on Goodreads when I could be reading Old Man's War...

Jenny wrote: "I recently finished Spin and I loved it. I'm now reading Old Man's War and I love it. In fact, I don't know why I'm on Goodreads when I could be reading Old Man's War..."

Old Man's War is one of my favorites. :-)

Currently reading The Steel Remains. It's pretty good.

Jenny wrote: "I recently finished Spin and I loved it. I'm now reading Old Man's War and I love it. In fact, I don't know why I'm on Goodreads when I could be reading Old Man's War..."

Spin is one of my favorite sci fi books. It had my eyes glued to the page.

I thought Spin was very good but Axis, the next book in the series, was disappointing. To me, his best books are The Chronoliths and Mysterium. I gave both of those five stars.

I have to agree that Axis was disappointing. It didn't have any of the wonder that blew me away in Spin.

Just finished up Mona Lisa Overdrive. Probably my first ever re-read of it. I think Gibson did a pretty good job of writing three novels that certainly are stand-alone, but also slot together rather nicely.

I'm midway through A Storm of Swords, and just about to finally start The Dispossessed.

I'm reading Deadhouse Gates, which I been wanting to read for a lot time, finally got a used copy.

Jason wrote: "I have to agree that Axis was disappointing. It didn't have any of the wonder that blew me away in Spin."

I felt the same way. I hope Vortex picks it up.

I have Vortex sitting on my shelf. I've had it since it came out, last summer. I should read it soon.

Read the first 6 of David Weber's Honor Harrington series since the beginning of the month and am working on the 7th, In Enemy Hands now.

Going to be picking up Randolph Lalonde's new book, The Expendable Few, part of the First Light Chronicles universe.

I'm reading Low Red Moon (science horror?)

Scott wrote: "I'm reading Low Red Moon (science horror?)"

Yeah. And weird as hell. lol

Finished Bad Moon Rising the other day. What a great ending to the trilogy.

Then I started The Sisters Brothers. I really like it so far.

I am reading both The Scar and The Windup Girl. Both are excellent! Hard to decide which one to pick up even...lol

I am about 80% through A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. It is a lot of fun. I had not realized it was a fantasy as I picked it up for the laughs.

I have also started A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski. Not deep enough into to have gotten comfortable yet. It is imaginative but the style takes a little getting used to.

I just finished the last book of the Hyperion Cantos, The Rise of Endymion. What a read. The Cantos series is one of those rare stories that never wane in excitement as it moves along. It actually gets better as you reach the end. I have Spin and Footfall on my shelves, and now deciding which to read next. While deciding, I think I'll go back to my disrupted TBR list and read book 7 of the Sword of Truth series.

Shari wrote: "I just finished the last book of the Hyperion Cantos, The Rise of Endymion. What a read. The Cantos series is one of those rare stories that never wane in excitement as it moves along. It actually ..."

Glad you enjoyed them!

Kevin wrote: "Shari wrote: "I just finished the last book of the Hyperion Cantos, The Rise of Endymion. What a read. The Cantos series is one of those rare stories that never wane in excitement as it moves along..."

Thanks, Kevin. I wish Simmons would continue the story. I'm really curious about the Tigers, Lions, and Bears.

I agree. He created one heck of a universe. It would be nice to see more than just four books.

Finished Shield by Poul Anderson. Fix-up novel in the old pulp-sf style.
I'm liking The Wind-Up Girl, but I feel like I'm missing stuff. It is dense prose.

Jason wrote: "I agree. He created one heck of a universe. It would be nice to see more than just four books."

Wait till you get to the fourth book, Jason. It gets even more... what's the word?... visionary? Do you know any other works that have similar flavor?

I can't wait!

That's a difficult question to answer. Right now I'm reading Revelation Space and it is blowing me away. It is much darker and dryer than the Hyperion books, but the world Reynolds created, or universe, is brilliant.

Spin is also a great read. It was the first sci fi book to completely knock my socks off. The sequels aren't so good.

Jason wrote: "I can't wait!

That's a difficult question to answer. Right now I'm reading Revelation Space and it is blowing me away. It is much darker and dryer than the Hyperion books, but the wor..."

Jason, I went on another book binge (sigh...) and bought Spin and Revelation Space, among other titles. Thanks for the recommendations.

Kevin wrote: "I'm reading Deadhouse Gates, which I been wanting to read for a lot time, finally got a used copy."

How did you find this book? I read the first of the series and it left me not really wanting to continue. But sometimes the second book in a series sort of redeems the first and makes the following books better. I wonder if this is the case with the Malazan story.

I buy used books myself. I think this is good for the environment.

Shari wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I'm reading Deadhouse Gates, which I been wanting to read for a lot time, finally got a used copy."

How did you find this book? I read the first of the series and it left me not real..."

As people have told me and as I found out the second book is actually much better than book one, but you have to get past part one in order to do it.

Kevin wrote: "Shari wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I'm reading Deadhouse Gates, which I been wanting to read for a lot time, finally got a used copy."

How did you find this book? I read the first of the series and it ..."

Thanks, Kevin. I finished book 1. I wouldn't say I hated it. I just didn't like how it was so crammed full when it's the first book. Very little intro to the characters and the setting that I had to check sometimes if I was reading book 1 and not book 5. But the book has promise, that's why I wanted to know what you think.